CHAPTER IV. 

 OHIPEWYAN TO BLACK LAKE. 



FoET Chipewyan is an old and important trading-post 

 ■of the Hudson's Bay Company. Before many of our Cana- 

 dian and American cities came into existence, Chipewyan 

 was a noted fur-trading centre. From here — or rather from 

 a. former site of the post, a few miles distant — Alexander 

 Mackenzie (afterwards Sir Alexander) started, in 1Y89, on 

 his famous journey down the great riv(ir which now bears his 

 name. About the beginning of the present century the post 

 was moved to the position it now occupies on the rocky north- 

 ern shore of the west end of the lake. 



The Fort consists of a long row of eighteen or twenty de- 

 tached log buildings, chiefly servants' houses, connected by a 

 Tiigh, strong wooden fence or wall, so as to present an un- 

 liroken front to the water; behind which, in a sort of court, 

 are situated the Factor's dwelling and two or three other good- 

 •sized log buildings. At the west end of the row stands an 

 Episcopal Mission church and the Mission house, which at 

 the time of our visit was occupied by Bishop Young, the see 

 ■of whose diocese was formerly here, but since removed to 

 Fort Vermilion, some 270 miles distant on the Peace River. 

 "Within easy sight, a short distance farther west, across a 

 little bay, the Roman Catholic Mission church and various 

 buildings connected therewith are situated. This mission is 

 a large and flourishing one, and is the see of the Roman 

 •Catholic Diocese of Athabasca. All the buildings of Chip- 

 ■ewyan are neatly whitewashed, so that, particularly from 

 the front, it presents a most striking appearance. At the back 



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