CHAPTER II. 

 DOWN THE ATHABASCA. 



The town of Athabasca Landing is picturesquely set in the 

 deep and beautiful valley of one of the greatest rivers of 

 America. Though not of imposing size, it is nevertheless an 

 important station of the Hudson's Bay Company, being the 

 point from which aU supplies for the many northern trading- 

 posts along the Athabasca and Mackenzie rivers are shipped, 

 and the point at which the furs from these places are received. 

 In order to provide for this shipping business, the Company 

 has a large warehouse and wharf. 



It is a fact, I think not very well known, that from this 

 place up stream for about one hundred miles and down for fif- 

 teen hundred miles to the Arctic Ocean, this great waterway, 

 excepting at two rapids, is regularly navigated by large river 

 steamers, owned by the Hudson's Bay Company and employed 

 in carrying supplies for their posts and the furs which are 

 secured in trade. Because of these two impassable rapids the 

 river is divided into three sections, necessitating the use of 

 three steamers, one for each section. Goods are transported 

 from one boat to the other over the greater part of the rapids 

 by means of scows, but for a short distance, at the Grand 

 Rapid, by means of a tramway built for the purpose. 



As we had previously ascertained, the steamer Athabasca 

 was due to leave the Landing on her down-stream trip on 

 or about the 1st of June ; so, taking advantage of the oppor- 

 tunity, we shipped the bulk of our stuff to Fort Chipewyan, 

 situated about three hundred and fifty miles down the river 

 on Lake Athabasca. Everything excepting the canoes and 

 provisions suiEcient to take us to Chipewyan was loaded upon 



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