138 Mackenzie’s Voyages

At high water the gravelly shores are submerged, towing
becomes impossible over the greater part of the distance,
poling is likewise precarious, and paddling is nearly always
out of the question. Progress can only be made by con-
stantly changing from one method to another, and when
all fail it is necessary to pull the canoe up laboriously by
clinging to the branches of the trees that border the river.
This method is probably more dangerous than any other,
since entanglements of the canoe, its lading, or the occupants
with limbs and sweepers are fraught with possibilities of
sudden wreckage.

Wednesday, 5 June, was one of those days that stand out
with peculiar interest in the explorer’s experience. The land
party had, as usual, gone on ahead, and the canoe had been
directed to proceed with all diligence. In the event of accident
or any emergency requiring the presence of their leader,
two shots were to be the signal, while such a signal from
him would require them to answer, and to wait for him,
if they were above.

‘The explorer with his foreman, Mackay, and the two
Indians ascended a hill to view the country, but found on
reaching the summit that they were still on the valley floor,
with ranges of mountains enclosing the trough on either
side. Reaching the river again, they fired the signals, but
received no answer. ‘Thinking the canoe was ahead, Mac-
kenzie crossed over the small end of an extensive loop and
reached the river higher up at ten, where he had a long view
above, but no canoe was in sight. ‘They repeated the signals
and sent broken branches down the stream as signs of their
presence above. At twelve, having gone ahead again, Mac-
kenzie once more fired two shots. ‘The water rushed by with
tremendous velocity. The heat of the day, the fatigue of
walking, the annoyance of mosquitoes, gnats, and deer-flies,