La Grande Riviere en Bas -—-——99

waters were observed to be a beautifully clear, greenish
blue, in great contrast with the cloudier waters of the
main stream, though comparatively speaking the Mackenzie
is characterised by the purity of its water, in spite of the
fact that it drains several thousand miles of the Cordilleran
system. The two great lakes above serve as sedimentation
basins, regulating the flow as well, which at a medium stage
discharges about half a million cubic feet a second.

A wind storm accompanied by rain forced a landing
when they had proceeded six miles. According to the guide,
the summit! of the rocky hill, Bear Rock, at whose foot
they were camped, was the scene of a storm every day of
the year.

In order to prevent the escape of their reluctant guide it
became necessary to keep a strict watch over him during
the night.

At three in a very rainy and cloudy morning the expedi-
tion was once more em route through numerous islands,
the river in places spreading to a width of ten miles. The
banks, since the day before, varied from one hundred to
three hundred feet in height; the current continued to run
about four miles, while rugged ranges of limestone mountains
were always in sight, though possibly thirty miles’ distance
from each other. In the evening camp was pitched under a
high rocky hill, which the party attempted to ascend, but
mosquitoes drove them down. This was in the neighbour-
hood of Roche Carcajou,? and Mackenzie noted that the
mountains terminated here, and a considerable river came
in from the west.

1 1300 feet.

2 Roche Carcajou is about 1000 feet high and rises steeply from the
water’s edge. It gets its name from a weathered knob which bears

a resemblance to a wolverine. The river flowing in from the west is
Carcajou River, 116 miles from Fort Norman.