s neve) Str ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

moreover, it ran an immense distance to the
south, out of Mackenzie’s direct course, before
reaching the Pacific.

Undaunted, he continued the descent of
the river next day, with a couple of the natives
to conduct him. He had only gone a few
miles when he landed on seeing some Indians
‘““whose appearance was more wild and fero-
cious than any whom we had yet seen.”” Even
his native guides had difficulty in persuading
them not to attack the strangers; but once
this was done, they gave Mackenzie a cordial
invitation to spend the night at their lodges.
Here he remained for a day, and in the course
of it he took an important decision. He
secured confirmation of all which he had
learnt about the river, and he discovered a
good deal more besides. There had been some
trade up the valley from the ocean, and one
old man said that as long as he could remem-
ber he had heard of white people to the south.
Now, however, their metal implements came
into the district from the coast by a trail oyer
the mountains, short and well-marked, which
began at a spot passed by Mackenzie some