110 Sir ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

illustrates the difficulties of their mode of
travel:

I passed a most uncomfortable night: the
first part of it I was tormented with flies, and
in the latter deluged with rain. In the morning
the weather cleared, and as soon as our clothes
were dried we proceeded through a morass.
This part of the country had been laid waste
by fire, and the fallen trees added to the pain
and perplexity of our way. . . . Though the
rain returned, we continued our progress till
noon, when our guides took to some trees for
shelter. We then spread our oil-cloth, and
with some difficulty made a fire. About two
the rain ceased, when we continued our jour-
ney. ... At five in the afternoon we were
so wet and cold (for it had at intervals con-
tinued to rain) that we were compelled to stop
for the night. We passed seven rivulets and
a creek in this day’s journey. . . . Our dis-
tance could not have been less than fifteen
miles.

He was forced that night to reduce rations
still further, and his guides and hunters
united in complaint at the rapidity of their
march.