138 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



snow fell constantly, and there was quite an appearance of a change 

 in the season. On the 2 2d we parted from our hospitable friend, 

 and re-commenced our journey, but under the expectation of seeing 

 him again in May ; at which time the partners of the Company 

 usually assemble at Fort Chipewyan, when we hope the necessary ar- 

 rangements for our future proceedings will be completed. We en- 

 camped at sunset, at the end of fourteen miles, having walked the 

 whole way along the river, which preserves nearly a true north 

 course, and is from four hundred to six hundred yards broad. The 

 banks are high, and well furnished with the hard, spruce, fir, alder, 

 birch-tree, and willows. Having come nineteen miles and a half, 

 on the 23d, we encamped among pines of a great height and girth. 



Showers of snow fell until noon on the following day, but we con- 

 tinued our journey along the river, whose banks and islands became 

 gradually lower as we advanced, and less abundantly supplied with 

 wood, except willows. We came up with an old Canadian, who was 

 resting his wearied dogs during the heat of the sun. He was car- 

 rying meat from some Indian lodges to Fort Chipewyan, having a 

 burden exceeding two hundred and fifty pounds on his sledge, which 

 was dragged by two miserable dogs. He came up to our encamp- 

 ment after dark. We were much amused by the altercation that 

 took place between him and our Canadian companions as to the qua- 

 lifications of their respective dogs. This, however, is such a general 

 topic of conversation among the voyagers in the encampment, that 

 we should not probably have remarked it, had not the old man fre- 

 quently offered to bet the whole of his wages that his two dogs, 

 poor and lean as they were, would drag their load to the Athabasca 

 Lake in less time than any three of theirs could. Having expressed 

 our surprise at his apparent temerity, he coolly said the men from 

 the lower countries did not understand the management of their 

 dogs, and that he depended on his superior skill in driving ; and we 

 soon gathered from his remarks, that the voyagers of the Athabasca 



