98 Thirty Years 
next portage, of two hundred and seventy-three paces ; 
and shortly afterwards to the Mountain Portage, of one 
hundred and twenty : which is appropriately named, 
as the path leads over the summit of a high hill. 
This elevated situation commands a very grand and 
picturesque view, for some miles along the river, which 
at this part is about a mile wide. 
We next crossed a portage of one hundred and 
twenty yards ; and then the Pelican portage of eight 
hundred paces. Mr. Back took an accurate sketch of 
the interesting scenery which the river presents at this 
place. After descending six miles further we came to 
the last portage on the route to Slave Lake, which we 
crossed, and encamped at its lower end. It is called 
“The Portage of the Drowned,” and it received that 
name from a melancholy accident which took place 
many years ago. Two canoes arrived at the upper 
end of the portage, in one of which there was an ex- 
perienced guide. This man, judging from the height 
of the river, deemed it practicable to shoot the rapid, 
and determined upon trying it. He accordingly 
placed himself in the bow of his canoe, having pre- 
viously agreed, that if the passage was found easy, he 
should, on reaching the bottom of the rapid, fire a 
musket, as a signal for the other canoe to follow. 
The rapid proved dangerous, and called forth all the 
