OF THE POLAR SEA. 



121 



was divided by rocks into narrow crooked 

 channels, every object indicating that some 

 convulsion had disturbed the general order 

 of nature at this place. We had passed a 

 portage above it, and after two long portages 

 below it we encamped. Near the last was 

 a small stream so strongly impregnated 

 with sulphur, as to taint the air to a great 

 distance around it. We saw two brown 

 bears on the hills in the course of the day. 



At daylight on the 11th we embarked. 

 The hills continued on both sides to the 

 mouth of the river, varying from eight 

 hundred to one thousand feet in height. 

 They declined to the banks in long green 

 slopes, diversified by woody mounds and 

 copses. The pines were not here in thick 

 impenetrable masses, but perched aloft in 

 single groups on the heights, or shrouded 

 by the livelier hues of the poplar and willow. 



We passed the mouth of the Red Willow 

 River on the south bank, flowing through a 

 deep ravine. It is the continuation of the 

 route by the Pembina, before mentioned. 

 At noon we entered the majestic Athabasca 



