TORONTO TO ATHABASCA LANDING. 15 
freighted down as far as Lake Athabasca by the Hud- 
son’s Bay Company, had not yet gone, but were already 
being baled up for shipment. The completion of this 
work, which was done under the supervision of my 
brother and myself, together with the making up of 
accounts and transaction of other business, occupied 
several days. But by the morning of the 27th of May 
our entire outfit, loaded upon waggons, set off on the 
northward trail leading to Atha- 
basca Landing, a small trading- 
post situated one hundred miles 
distant on the banks of the 
great Athabasca River. 
Two days later, being Mon- 
day morning, my brother and I, 
accompanied by a driver only, 
started out in a light vehicle in 
rear of the outfit. The weather 
was showery, and the trail in 
many places very soft. Occa- 
sionally deep mud-holes were 
encountered, bearing evidence 3 
aemieeceen, siruemies Of the <a s ¢ inikepauren, 
teams of our advance party, but 
as we were travelling “light,” we had little difficulty 
in making good progress. Later in the day the weather 
cleared, permitting us to enjoy a view of the beautiful 
country through which we were passing. As to the 
soil, it was chiefly a rich black loam, well covered, 
even at this early season, between the clumps of pop- 
lar scrub, by rich prairie grass. A few settlers were ~ 
already in the field, and had just built or were building 
