ON THE TRAIL TO PEACE RIVER 87 



Our work being completed here, we set out for the Crosa- 

 ing by waggon, our roiite lying over the same majestic 

 prairies, and reached the Landing the second night, passing 

 the Roman Catholic and Church of England Missions on the 

 way. The former Mission is an extensive establishment, 

 with a fine farm and garden. Indeed, with the exception of 

 primitive outlying stations, all the principal Roman Catholic 

 Missions, by their extent and completeness, put our own 

 more meagrely endowed establishments into rather painful 

 contrast; 



A great concourse of natives was at the Landing awaiting 

 our arrival. The place was covered with tepees and tents, and 

 no less than four trading marquees had been pitched pending 

 the scrip issue, which it took some time to complete. 



Near the Landing were the mill and farm of a namesake 

 of Sir Alexander Mackenzie. His father, indeed, was a 

 cousin of the renowned explorer who gave his name to the 

 great river of the North. This father, under whom, Mr. 

 Mackenzie said. Lord Strathcona had spent his first year as a 

 clerk in the Hudson's Bay Company's service, was drowned, 

 with nine Iroquois, whilst running the Lachine Rapids in a 

 bark canoe. His son came to Peace River in 1863, and his 

 career, as he told it to me, will bear repeating. He was born 

 at Three Rivers, in Lower Canada, in 1843, and was sent to 

 Scotland to be educated, remaining there until he was eight- 

 een years of age. In 1861 he joined the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany's service, wintering first at Norway House under Chief- 

 factor William Sinclair, but removed to Peace River, became 

 a chief-trader there in 1872, and, after some years of ser- 

 vice, retired, and has lived at the Crossing ever since. 



The Landing, he told me, used to be known as " The 

 Forks," it being here that the Smoky River joins the Peace ; 

 and here were concentrated, in bygone days, the posts and 

 rivalries of the great fur companies. The remains of the 

 North-West Company's fort are still visible on the north 

 bank, a few miles above the Landing. On the south shore. 



