OF THE POLAR SEA. 



3 



grandeur by the wild scenery which ap- 

 peared immediately below our feet. There 

 the eye penetrates into vast ravines two or 

 three hundred feet in depth, that are clothed 

 with trees, and lie on either side of the 

 narrow pathway descending to the river over 

 eight successive ridges of hills. At one 

 spot, termed the Cockscomb, the traveller 

 stands insulated as it were on a small slip, 

 where a false step might precipitate him into 

 the glen. From this place Mr. Back took 

 an interesting and accurate sketch, to allow 

 time for which we encamped early, having 

 come twenty-one miles. 



The Methye Portage is about twelve 

 miles in extent, and over this space the 

 canoes and all their cargoes are carried, 

 both in going to and from the Athabasca 

 department. It is part of the range of 

 mountains which separates the waters flow- 

 ing south from those flowing north. Ac- 

 cording to Sir Alexander Mackenzie, " this 

 range of hills continues in a S.W. direction 

 until its local height is lost between the 

 Saskatchawan and Elk Rivers, close on the 

 b 2 



