82 Mackenzie’s Voyages

the idea of ascending these western mountains while he
had the opportunity. There may have been a half-formed
thought in his mind that by attaining the summit, the river
in the west would open out to view. The distance to the
Pacific was greatly foreshortened on all maps of the day.
But the size, volume and direction of the Liard must have
convinced him that it drained an extent of country westward
greater than that indicated on the maps of that time.

Leaving camp at four in the afternoon, Mackenzie with
a young Indian set off through the woods towards the
range in the west. The forest was difficult to penetrate.
Coming out at last to rising ground they obtained their first
view, since leaving the canoe, of the mountains which
appeared to be as far off as ever. Proceeding, the travellers
ran into marshy ground which effectually halted their pro-
gress, and they were reluctantly compelled to return, reaching
the canoes at midnight.

The hunters reported coming upon Indian camps, and
Mackenzie asked English Chief to search for the natives,
but he was backward in complying. Mackenzie was evidently
greatly dissatisfied with the meagre information that he had
so far been able to secure, relating to the existence of a river
flowing westward to the ocean. Ever since leaving the delta
the suspicion had been growing in his mind that the Indians
along the river knew more than they communicated, and
that English Chief communicated less than he heard.
“They were afraid that I should obtain such accounts of
the other river as would induce me to travel overland to it,
and that they should be called upon to accompany me. I
was indeed informed by one of my own people, that English
Chief, his wives and companions had determined to leave me
on this side of Slave Lake in order to go to the country of
the Beaver Indians.”