An Expedition down the Begh-ula. 4*7 



ment, which we did for several miles, finding the river 

 narrow and very rapid. We also perceived that it assumed 

 a south-easterly course, which he informed me it maintained 

 until near its head. He also stated that the distance thither 

 overland was about three days' march. I conceived also 

 that I was now on the nearest point of the river to . G-ood 

 Hope. A lop-stick marked with a cross was made, and we 

 returned to the camp, where we found that the Iroquois had 

 patched up the canoe. We then dined and retraced our 

 steps to Boss Eiver, which was reached and ascended for 

 several miles. A few small rapids were passed near its 

 mouth, but there was abundance of water higher up — 

 breadth from twenty to fifty yards, with a smooth current, 

 the banks high, sloping and partially timbered. 



The country along the Anderson was latterly very 

 well wooded, and some goodly pines were seen. We also 

 saw several rafts which had been used by Indians in cross- 

 ing last spring, but no Indians were met with. This 

 quarter is seldom hunted by them, their wintering grounds 

 being situated more to the westward. The tract of country 

 embraced by a line drawn west from the borders of the 

 woods on the Anderson to the Mackenzie, southward to the 

 Peau de Lievre Eiver at Good Hope, is very well tim- 

 bered, and doubtless rich in martens and other fur-bearing 

 animals, as well as rabbits and moose, and reindeer in their 

 season — and this tract is but partially hunted by the 

 Loucheux and Hare Indians. 



The Lower Eamparts are composed of a hard, compact 

 limestone, and the rocky banks seen below and above them, 

 not already described, as well as the Upper Eamparts, are 

 also of limestone, but of a less durable quality. Some blue 

 rock resembling granite was seen at one place, and also a 

 species of shale. No fossils were noticed in the rocks 

 passed after the 29th ult. A few deer and great numbers 

 of geese were seen daily, and moose- and bear-tracks were 

 not very scarce. 



On the 6th July, Eoss Eiver was ascended to a lake 



