ALBERTA 40 



terruption; the traveler is inclined to look upon these as 

 infringements upon his rights, as contrary to the traditions of 

 the Plains, when he is intercepted by them in traversing a direct 

 and well-worn trail, and compelled to follow new and as yet 

 little-used roads platted on the lines and angles of surveyed 

 sections. 



I reached Edmonton on the 20th of April. This frontier 

 town is the present terminus of the northern branch of the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway; it is situated on the north bank of 

 the North Saskatchewan, nearly two hundred miles north of 

 Calgary on the main line of the railroad. As at Macleod, the 

 traveler is landed on the opposite side of the river, three miles 

 from the town. The ice was just breaking up in the river and 

 a thrifty Scotchman was ferrying passengers across an open 

 channel in the middle, ten yards wide, at twenty-five cents each. 

 This was the last point at which I could purchase provisions 

 for the far north, where I expected to depend on net and gun or 

 on the Company's posts, supplied principally with the meat and 

 fish of the country. I did not wish to hamper myself with a 

 large outfit, nor did I have the means with which to pay the 

 charges for transportation. The list of supplies, a considerable 

 portion of which was given in gratuities to the Indians, was as 

 follows: 



Flour 200 pounds. 



Bacon, side, . . . ... 50 pounds. 



Tea, black, 21 pounds. 



Sugar, brown 30 pounds. 



Baking powder, 3 pounds. 



The outfit, including provision, fixed ammunition, two 45-90 

 Winchester rifles, and a ten- and a twelve-bore shotgun, weighed 

 but 750 pounds. 



The presence of rival traders at Chippewyan compels the 

 Company to send a spring outfit to that post by boat as soon 

 as navigation opens, usually about the first of May. As I 

 wished to reach Lake Athabasca in time to collect a series of 

 the first migratory birds, I made arrangements to accompany 

 this early boat instead of waiting for the steamer "Athabasca," 

 which starts down the Athabasca River a month later. All of 

 the freight to and from the north is hauled by wagon from 

 Edmonton to Athabasca Landing, a distance of ninety-four 

 miles, whence the water route extends to the Arctic Sea. 



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