100 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



center of the contracted outlet — the head of the Mackenzie. The 

 channel south of Big Island carries most of the water. On the north 

 shore of the lake, opposite Big Island, stood the former trading post 

 of that name. It is said to have been established in 18^7, and aban- 

 doned in 1868. This is a famous place for the fall fishery, and up- 

 ward of 50,000 Avhitefish are taken in the vicinity and frozen for use at 

 Forts Providence and Simpson. At the outlet of the lake the Mac- 

 kenzie has a width of T or 8 miles, with many low, rocky islands and 

 a moderate current. A little beyond, the river contracts and the cur- 

 rent increases in force. Some -10 miles from the lower end of Big 

 Island several islands block the channel and cause an acceleration of 

 the current, usually called ' The Providence Rapids.' On the north 

 shore of the river at this point is situated Fort Providence. (See PI. 

 X, fig. 2.) 



The country about the fort is level and is mainly grown up to 

 poplars {PopuJf/s tremuloides) . Back from the river are many mus- 

 kegs, with their characteristic tamarack and spruce forests. The first 

 settlement at this point seems to have been made by the Eoman Catho- 

 lics in 1862, and their establishment is now one of the largest in the 

 north. The Hudson's Bay Company post was established here in 

 1868, when the post at Big Island was abandoned. Both establish- 

 ments cultivate large fields of potatoes and the various root cro])s. 



Belovr Fort Providence the Mackenzie passes through an expansion 

 called the ' Little Lake,' and then follows a general west-northwest- 

 erly course to its junction Avith the Liard. Its banks are composed 

 mainly of shale and gravel, and its valley, at first rather shallow, 

 graduall}^ increases m depth. Its principal affluents are the Horn (or 

 Willow), Trout. Spence. and Rabbitskin rivers. The first of these 

 streams enters the Little Lake on its north side. Between this point 

 and Trout Eiver, a distance of TO miles, the Mackenzie floAvs Avitli 

 a sluggish current, receiving from the south the waters of YelloAvknife 

 RiA'er, 50 miles from WilloAv River. BeloAv the mouth of Trout River, 

 a large affluent from the south, the current of the Mackenzie l)ec'viies 

 SAvifter. and this point is called the ' Head of the Line.' as the slacker 

 current aboA'e permits traAxlers Avhen ascending the riAxr to discard 

 the tracking line, and to use oars or paddles to adA^antage.'^ 



Between this point and Spence RiA^er, a distance of 35 miles, the 

 course of the Mackenzie is west-northwesterly. It then flows toAvard 

 the northward for 15 miles to Rabbitskin RiA^er, and then westward 



^ On the map accompanying Franklin's narratiA'e of liis second expedition 

 the site of the first post on the Mackenzie is placed on the north bank of the 

 riA-er a short distance below this point. This post AA'as built in 1796 by Duncan 

 LiA'ingston (or Levingston) of the XorthAA^est Company. In the summer of 1799 

 Mr. Livingston made a A^oyage of discoA^ery to the mouth of the riA-er, and with 

 four companions was murdered by the Eskimo, only one of the i^arty escaping. 



