190S.] 



EOrTES TRAVERSED MACKENZIE. 



101 



20 miles to join the LiarJ. its largest tributary. Two miles VjeloAv 

 the junction, on a large island near the left l)ank. stands Fort Simp- 

 son. (PL X. %. 1.)^ 



Fort Simj^son is an important post of the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany, and its site, under various names, has been occupied for about 

 a century." The island on which Fort Simpson is built is about 2 

 miles in length, and is the upper and larger of two which lie close 

 to the western bank, being separated from it only by a narrow, shal- 

 low channel. It is apparently of alluvial origin, but if so was 

 formed when the bed of the Mackenzie occupied a much higher level 

 than at present. It has been heavily wooded, but most of the orig- 

 inal forest has been removed. Its highest parts stand 10 or 50 feet 

 above the ordinary level of the water. The width of the main chan- 

 nel of the Mackenzie at this point is 1 mile, and that of the island and 

 the western channel about half a mile. The river is bordered on 

 the Avest by a rolling, wooded plain, where mossy muskegs, alter- 

 nating with poplar or pine covered ridges, extend back to a range of 

 low hills. The country bordering the river to the eastward is simi- 

 lar, but is less rolling. Bluefish Creek, which enters the Mackenzie 

 opposite the post, has cut its way from the swampy plateau down to 

 the level of the main river. Its lower course is a succession of rapids, 

 bordered in places by high cut banks of shale. It is the only tribu- 

 tary stream of any note in the A'icinity. 



Fort Simpson i- the head j^o^t of it> district.'^ and. like many other 

 trading posts, was in former days a much more pretentious establish- 

 ment. Before the days of steam navigation all the goods for the 

 district were distributed from this point, but since the lower posts 

 have been supj^lied direct it has lost much of its former importance. 

 Its great warehouses were formerly disposed in the form of a square, 

 open toward the river, but the recent removal of one of the buildings 

 has broken up this regularity. In the center of the square stands a 



« Fort Simpsou was establislied as a Xortliwest Company post very early iu 

 the uineteentli century — at least previous to ISO". Local tradition places tlie 

 original site on tlie same island a few linndred yards north of the present 

 location. At first it had no distinctive name, being known simply as The 

 Forks." It was established as a Hudson's Bay Company post soon after the 

 coalition of the two companies, most likely in 1S23. and probably received its 

 name at that time. 



Fort Liard. on Liard River about 150 miles southwest of Fort Simpson, is 

 said to have been established in 1S06, at or near its present site. 



Fort Nelson, on Nelson Paver, was built only a little later. In the winter 

 of 1812-13 the fort was destroyed and its inmates killed by the Indians. (Mas- 

 son, Les Bourgeois, II. p. 125. 1S90.) It was again in use in 1S25, but was 

 subsequently abandoned, and was reestablished in 1865. 



^ Since my visit to the Mackenzie. Fort Smith, on account of its greater acces- 

 sibility, has been made the head post of Mackenzie River district. The trans- 

 fer took place in 1907. 



