**Back-Packing”’ to the Pacific 161

significance of this remarkable feat can hardly be realised,
except by those who have themselves “‘back-packed”’ all
day and every day on some memorable trip.

The trail on Tuesday ran twenty-six miles along the
largest stream encountered since leaving the Fraser. It was
full of salmon and was thought to be a branch of the Fraser,!
entering it below the lowest point they had attained in their
descent. Although the countryside was grassy and appeared
to be a favourable range for game, there was a complete
absence of animals, which rather puzzled the explorers, and,
realising that it would be difficult to secure provisions on
their return journey, Mackenzie thought it wise to conceal
half a bag of pemmican, which was done in the usual way by
burying it and making a fire over the spot. From this point
the snow-covered mountains were visible in the distance.

At a beautiful lake? farther on, a party of Indians who
called themselves the Red-Fish Men 3 were living in a state
of comparative comfort. They were cleanly, healthy, and
agreeable in appearance, and their language denoted that
they belonged to the great Chipewyan * family which extends
from Hudson Bay up the Churchill River and the Peace to
the eastern edge of the Coast Range in British Columbia.
They had all been to the coast, but their estimates of the
time of the journey varied from four to eight days.

Two guides were engaged from this party who led them
during most of a rainy day through a morass, and over a
rough country, with the snow-clad mountains coming into
more distinct view. The day was cold and wet, the travellers
were in misery, and camped early, after doing about fifteen
miles. “he guides did not like their way of travelling and

1 They were still on the Blackwater River.
One of the Cluscus Lakes.

8 See Sloua-cuss-Dinais in Appendix A.
‘See Appendix C, ‘‘ Indian Tribes.”