Mackenzie’s Granp Dersicn 143

fur-trade in the North-West which ranks as
the chief contemporary authority on the sub-
ject. ‘This consists of a brief narrative of the
development of the North West Company,
followed by an elaborate description of trading
methods and of the routes used between Mon-
treal and Fort Chipewyan; it ends with an
account of the life of the Cree and Beaver
Indians. Then comes the journal of the two
voyages, recording events from day to day in
_a dry and matter-of-fact style for which he
apologizes in the preface. It is not one of the
great books of travel because it lacks literary
distinction; but it is an admirably lucid and
truthful explorer’s log-book, which is all it
professes to be.

It had an immediate success. It was well
reviewed, usually at great length and without
a critical note except on matters of style. It
was, however, indicative of the prevalent
ignorance in Great Britain that the Edin-
burgh Review should say that “this large
volume will convey but little important infor-
mation to the geographer, the naturalist, or
the statesman.” French and German trans-