EDMONTON TO LESSER SLAVE LAKE 39 



recent fires, and that, too, at the possible opening of an era 

 of real value in the near future. The greatest destruction 

 was evidently on the north side of the river, but the south 

 had not escaped. 



As regards the soil in these parts, it was, so far, impos- 

 sible to speak favourably. The hunters described the inland 

 country as a wilderness of sand-hills, surrounded by quak- 

 ing-bogs, muskegs and soft meadows. Judging by exposures 

 on the river bank, there are, here and there, fertile areas 

 which may yet be utilized; but probably the best thing that 

 could happen to that part of the country would be a great 

 clearing fire to complete the destruction of its dead timber 

 and convert its best parts into prairie and a summer range 

 for cattle. 



We were now approaching a portion of the river where 

 the difficulties of getting on were great. The men had to 

 cope with the swift current, bordered by a series of steep 

 gumbo slides, where the tracking was hazardous ; where 

 great trees slanted over the water, tottering to their fall, or 

 deep pits and fissures gaped in the festering clay, into which 

 the men often plunged to their arm-pits. It was horrible 

 to look upon. The chain-gang, the galley-slaves — how often 

 the idea of them was recalled by that horrid pull! Yet 

 onward they went, with teeth set and hands bruised by the 

 rope, surmounting difficulty after difficulty with the pith of 

 lions. 



At last a better region was reached, with occasionally a 

 better path. Here the destruction by fire had been stayed, 

 the country improved, and the forest outlines became bold 

 and noble. Hour by hour we crept along a like succession 

 of majestic bends of the river, not yet flushed by the summer 

 freshet, but flowing with superb volume and force. Fully 

 ten miles were made that day, the men tracking like Trojans 

 through water and over difficult ground, but fortunately free 

 from mosquitoes, the constant head winds keeping these 

 effectually down. The cool weather in like manner kept the 

 water down, for it is in this month that the freshet from the 



