Over the Divide E35

Stickine interlock in a maze of turbulent streams. It is a
question whether the expedition would have safely made the
coast and back through that difficult mountainous terrain.
There are practicable routes through it, but it is hardly
likely that the explorers would have chanced upon any of
them without the assistance of Indian guides, who in that
region could not be easily found.

He therefore directed his steersman to take the Parsnip,
which was swifter but much narrower than the other.
The water was continually rising. A view of that wild
mountain river in flood was enough to daunt the enthusiasm
of the most loyal vayageur. Paddles were useless, poles often
would not reach bottom, and the water was so high that it
was not always possible to use the towing-line. The Indians
were tired of the voyage, and the voyageurs with two evils
before them were inclined to choose the lesser. Mackenzie
was urged by his entire personnel to take the northern
branch. He himself favoured that course, but his determina-
tion to abide by what in the circumstances appeared the most
logical course speaks well for his firmness of purpose. ‘The
velocity of the water was so great that it took them the
greater part of the afternoon to cover two or three miles,
‘a very tardy and mortifying progress. “he voyage was
openly execrated by many of those who were engaged in
it.” But he shows his sympathetic nature when he says,
“the inexpressible toil these people had endured, as well as
the dangers they had encountered, required some degree
of consideration.”

Mackenzie possessed in an eminent degree the faculty
of being superior to the annoyances and difficulties of the
moment, which enabled him, while sympathising with the
momentary cause of discontent, to bring to bear arguments
that restored his men’s mental poise, and imbued them with

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