190F ] 



EOUTES TKAVERSED MACKENZIE. 



105 



are eaten extensively by the natives in spring, abounds all along the 

 Mackenzie, and here early in June its violet-purple flowers were 

 beginning to appear. Below here the ' boucanes' — IxhIs of lignite 

 udiich have been on fire at least since the river was hrst descended 

 in 1789 — are passed. A short distance beloAV, Fort Norman stands 

 on the right bank a few hundred 3^ards above wdiere Bear River 

 mingles its clear waters with the discolored flood of the Mackenzie. 



Fort Norman occupies a commanding position on the high bank. 

 It has been built successively at several points, but the present site 

 has been occupied for a number of years. Back of the post extend 

 the inevitable muskegs with their shrubby growth of Chamwdaphne^ 

 Andro?neda polifoUa^ the two species of Ledum., Vacc'mium idigi- 



FiG. 7. — Bear Rock, at junction or Bear River with the Mackenzie. 



71081(771, etc., wdiile a strip along the crest of the bank is comparatively 

 dry and is wooded wdth poplars and wdllows. To the north, across 

 Bear River, rise the rugged peaks of Bear Rock (see fig. 7). Along 

 its southern base, at the time of my visit in June, 1904, a mass of 

 ice at least half a mile in length and of unknown thickness was visible 

 from the post. To the w^est across the broad Mackenzie the ranges 

 of the Rocky Mountains, snow clad during most of the 3"ear, stretch 

 away into the distance. 



Below^ the mouth of Bear River, whose clear blue water flows dis- 

 tinct for several miles before losing its individuality, the Mackenzie 

 follow^s a general west-northwest course for about 125 miles to the 

 Sans Sault Rapid. The face of Bear Rock is nearly devoid of trees, 

 and from the river presents an aspect similar to that of Roche 

 Trempe-l'eau. Below here a low limestone cliff borders the river on 

 the right for some miles. The banks are generally low^ and shelving 



