126 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



that Mr. Smith was enabled to give us. It 

 was gratifying, however, to perceive that 

 this scarcity of food did not depress the 

 spirits of our Canadian companions, who 

 cheerfully loaded their canoes, and embarked 

 in high glee after they had received the 

 customary dram. At noon we bade fare- 

 well to our kind friend Mr. Smith. The 

 crews commenced a lively paddling song on 

 quitting the shore, which was continued 

 until we had lost sight of the houses. We 

 soon reached the western boundary of the 

 lake, and at two entered the Stony River, 

 one of the discharges of the Athabasca 

 Lake into the Slave River, and having a 

 favouring current passed swiftly along. 

 This narrow stream is confined between 

 low swampy banks, which support willows, 

 dwarf birch, and alder. At five we passed 

 its conflux with the Peace River. The 

 Slave River, formed by the union of these 

 streams, is about three quarters of a mile 

 wide. We descended this magnificent river 

 with much rapidity, and after passing 

 through several narrow channels, formed 



