170 



Harmon's journal. 



a hill, which towers majestically, to the height of 

 a thousand feet, above the plain below ; and which 

 commands a most extensive and delightful pros- 

 pect. Two lofty and extensive ridges, enclose a 

 valley, about three miles in width, which stretches, 

 far as the eye can reach. The Little River, 

 which is, also, by different persons, denominated 

 Swan, Clear water, or Pelican River, winds, in a 

 most delightful manner, along this charming val- 

 ley. The majestick forests, which wave upon 

 these ridges, the delightful verdure of the inter- 

 vening lawn, and the beautiful stream, which wan- 

 ders along through it, giving a pleasing variety to 

 the scene, until these objects become blended 

 with the horizon, form, on the whole, the most de- 

 lightful, natural scenery, that I ever beheld. 



Sunday, 4. In the morning, we left the Port- 

 age ; and are now in Little Athabasca River ; 

 which is about twenty rods wide. 



Tuesday, 6. We are now in the Great Atha- 

 basca River, which is about three quarters of & 

 mile in breadth. In the early part of the day, 

 we passed the Fork, where Little Athabasca riv- 

 er and Red deer, or as some call it, Elk river, 

 form a junction. — At a small distance from Port- 

 age la Loche, the navigation of the river is inter- 

 rupted by several carrying places, in about the 

 middle of which, are some mineral springs, that 



