ACEOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



canoes were kept in the stream and all hands at the paddles, 

 and by nightfall another stretch of about sixty miles was 

 covered. We had now reached the low, flat country at the 

 delta of the river, where its waters break into many channels, 

 but still a strong current was running, and this we were glad 

 to find continued until within a distance of six or eight miles 

 from the lake. Some parts of the river were much obstructed 

 by driftwood grounded upon shoals ; the banks, too, were low 

 and marshy, and landing-places difficult to find. Several 

 flocks of wild geese were seen, but none secured. 



During the morning of the 17th some gun-shots were heard 

 not far distant across the grassy marsh, and turning our 

 canoes in that direction we soon met several bark canoes 

 manned by Chipewyan Indian hunters. Frangois, being the 

 only man in our party who could understand or talk with 

 them, was much in demand, and he was instructed to ask 

 them the shortest way through the delta towards Chipewyan. 

 Indian-like, he entered into conversation with the strangers 

 for ten minutes or so (doubtless chiefly about their wives and 

 daughters) , and then with a wave of the hand said, " We go 

 dis way." So that way we went, and by three o'clock in the 

 afternoon found ourselves in the open waters of Lake Atha- 

 basca. Two hours later we had crossed the end of the lake 

 and drawn up our canoes on the rocky shore in front of Fort 

 Chipewyan. It was Saturday evening, and the distance 

 travelled thus far since launching the canoes was, according 

 to Mr. Ogilvie, 430 miles. As we were already aware. Dr. 

 McKay, the Hudson's Bay Company's agent, was not at the 

 Fort, but we were received by the assistant trader, Pierre 

 Mercredie, a half-breed, and shown to a camping-ground in 

 front of the Fort, or otherwise on Main Street of the town. 

 During the evening we had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. 

 McKay and her children, and also Mr. Russell, an American 

 naturalist, who was sojourning at this place on his way down 

 the Mackenzie River. 



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