THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S BKIGADES, 461 



water below, about one and a half feet, making a total 

 fall of 5-58 feet. Loaded boats run the rapid without 

 difficulty, and if the channel were cleared of boulders and 

 improved, it might be ascended by a powerful steamer. 



Having spent some time in making observations at 

 Cross-Lake Eapid, it was late in the afternoon when we 

 entered Cross Lake ; where our Indian guide left us, 

 although he had agreed to pilot us down the Grand 

 Eapid. He expressed himself anxious to return to his 

 family at Moose Lake, and could not be induced to go 

 farther. During the return journey, upon which he set 

 out in a little canoe that he picked up coming down the 

 river, he would have several days' hard paddling against 

 a swift current. His departure was not objectionable, 

 however, inasmuch as, had he continued longer with us, 

 our slender stock of pemmican must soon have given out. 

 We could spare him but a handful to carry him to his 

 destination. 



At the east end of Cross Lake we met Mr. Christie 

 (a gentleman in the service of the Hon. Hudson's Bay 

 Company, who had recently been appointed to the charge 

 of Edmonton House,) in command of a brigade of boats, 

 en route from York Factory to Edmonton and the Eocky 

 Mountain district. Mr. Christie's heavily laden boats 

 (fourteen in number) were manned by a motley group 

 of Indians, half-breeds, Orkney -men, Norwegians, and 

 negroes ; they had just made the laborious ascent of the 

 Grand Eapid, and thus far their progress had been very 

 slow. Mr. Christie represented the many difficulties 

 which had to be contended with in a boat voyage ; the 

 detentions on the lakes by contrary winds ; the strong 

 currents and rapids that had to be encountered in ascend- 

 ing the rivers ; and the difficulty of procuring men 

 suitable for the work ; (each boat requiring six to eight 



