190 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



The north side of the Methye portage is in latitude 56° 41' 40" N. 

 and longitude 109° 52' 0" W. It is, by our course, one hundred and 

 twenty-four miles from Isle a la Crosse, and considered as a branch 

 of the Missinnippi, five hundred and ninety-two miles from the Frog 

 portage. The clear water-river passing through the valley, described 

 above, evidently rises not far to the eastward. The height, com- 

 puted by the same mode as that of the Echiamamis, by allowing a 

 foot for each mile of distance, and six feet on an average, for each 

 fall and rapid, is two thousand four hundred and sixty-seven feet 

 above the level of the sea, admitting it to be nine hundred feet 

 above the Clear Water-River. The country, in a line between it and 

 the mouth of Mackenzie's river, is a continual descent, although to 

 the eastward of that line, there may be several heights between it 

 and the Arctic sea. To the eastward, the lands descend to Hud- 

 son's bay ; and to the westward also, till the Athabasca river cuts 

 through it, from whence it ascends to the rocky mountains. Daring 

 was the spirit of enterprise that first led Commerce, with her cum- 

 brous train, from the waters of Hudson's Bay to those of the Arctic 

 sea, across an obstacle to navigation so stupendous as this; and 

 persevering has been the industry which drew riches from a source 

 so remote. 



On the 8th two men arrived, and informed us, that they had 

 brought us our ten bags of pemmican, from Isle a la Crosse, but that 

 they were found to be rotten. Thus were we unexpectedly deprived 

 of the most essential of our stores, for we knew Fort Chepewyan to 

 be destitute of provisions, and that Mr. Franklin depended upon us 

 for a supply, whereas, enough did not remain for our own use. On 

 the 9th, the canoes and cargoes reached the north side of the portage. 

 Our people had selected two bags of pemmican less mouldy than the 

 rest, which they left on the beach. Its decay was caused by some 

 defect in the mode of mixing it. 



On the 10th,we embarked in the Clear Water River; and proceeded 

 down the current. The hills, the banks, and bed of the river, were 



