60 A General History of the Fur Trade. 



respite to the labour of carrying. Within a mile of the 

 termination of the Portage is a very steep precipice, whose 

 ascent and descent appears to be equally impracticable in 

 any way, as it consists of a succession of eight hills, some 

 of which are almost perpendicular ; nevertheless, the Cana- 

 dians contrive to surmount all these difficulties, even with 

 their canoes and lading. 



This precipice, which rises upwards of a thousand feet 

 above the plain beneath it, commands a most extensive, ro- 

 mantic, and ravishing prospect. From thence the eye looks 

 down on the course of the little river, by some called the 

 Swan river, and by others, the Clear- Water and Pelican 

 river, beautifully meandering for upwards of thirty miles. 

 The valley, which is at once refreshed and adorned by it, 

 is about three miles in breadth, and is confined by two lofty 

 ridges of equal height, displaying a most delightful inter- 

 mixture of wood and lawn, and stretching on until the blue 

 mist obscures the prospect. Some parts of the inclining 

 heights are covered with stately forests, relieved by pro- 

 montories of the finest verdure, where the elk and buffalo 

 find pasture. These are contrasted by spots where fire has 

 destroyed the woods, and left a dreary void behind it. Nor, 

 when I beheld this wonderful display of uncultivated nature, 

 was the moving scenery of human occupation wanting to 

 complete the picture. From this elevated situation I beheld 

 my people, diminished, as it were, to half their size, em- 

 ployed in pitching their tents in a charming meadow, and 

 among the canoes, which, being turned upon their sides, 

 presented their reddened bottoms in contrast with the sur- 

 rounding verdure. At the same time, the process of gum- 

 ming them produced numerous small spires of smoke, 

 which, as they rose, enlivened the scene, and at length 

 blended with the larger columns that ascended from the fires 

 where the suppers were preparing. It was in the month of 

 September when I enjoyed a scene, of which I do not pre- 

 sume to give an adequate description; and as it was the 

 rutting season of the elk, the whistling of that animal was 

 heard in all the variety which the echoes could afford it. 



This river, which waters and reflects such enchanting 

 scenery, runs, including its windings, upwards of eighty 

 miles, when it discharges itself in the Elk River, according 

 to the denomination of the natives, but commonly called by 

 the white people, the Athabasca River, in latitude 56. 42. 

 North. 



