FOET CHIPEWYAN TO FOET M'MUEEAY 109 



ceeded, by an extremely difficult forest trail, to Lesser Slave 

 Lake. They had no feed for the horses, save what they 

 drew, and, of course, they reached the lake completely 

 exhausted. Here, by Mr. McLean's advice, they sold the 

 horses, and with the proceeds hired local freighters to carry 

 them and their supplies to Peace Eiver Crossing, where 

 boats were built in which the party, with the exception of 

 one of the organizers, Mr. Willis, who had returned in 

 high dudgeon to Chicago, set out for Great ^lave Lake. 

 Before getting to Fort Eesolution, Mr. McLean got private 

 information from a former servant of his at that post, 

 which led to an expedition to the north-east end of the lake, 

 where he made valuable finds of copper and other minerals. 

 Another trip was made, and additional claims were taken, 

 and on Mr. McLean's return with a lot of samples of ore, 

 he, with another prospector, came out, and proceeded to 

 Chicago. His samples were tested there and in Winnipeg, 

 and yielded in copper from 11 to 32 per cent. ; and the 

 galena 60 ozs. of silver to the ton. Other minerals, such 

 as sulphur, coal, asphalt, petroleum, iron and salt were dis- 

 covered, all of great promise, and his opinion is that when 

 transport is extended to that region, it will prove to be a 

 great storehouse of mineral wealth. 



The other members of the party had at various times and 

 places separated, some going here and some there; but all 

 eventually left the country, and the company died a natural 

 death. But Mr. McLean is not only a firm believer in the 

 mineral wealth of the ISTorth, but in its resources otherwise. 

 There are extensive areas of large timber, and the lakes 

 swarm with fish. The soil on the Liard Eiver is excellent, 

 and he tells me that not only wheat but Indian corn will 

 ripen there, as he himself grew both successfully when 

 in charge of that district. 



The mining enterprises referred to fell through, but I 

 have described them at some length since they are very inter- 

 esting as being the first attempts at prospecting with a view 



