From This Place Mr.
Back Took An Interesting And Accurate Sketch To Allow Time For Which We
Encamped Early, Having Come Twenty-One Miles.
The Methye Portage is about twelve miles in extent and over this space
the canoes and all their cargoes are carried, both in going to and from
the Athabasca department.
It is part of the range of mountains which
separates the waters flowing south from those flowing north. According to
Sir Alexander Mackenzie "this range of hills continues in a South-West
direction until its local height is lost between the Saskatchewan and Elk
Rivers, close on the banks of the former in latitude 53 degrees 36
minutes North, longitude 113 degrees 45 minutes West, when it appears to
take its course due north." Observations taken in the spring by Mr. Hood
place the north side of the portage in latitude 56 degrees 41 minutes 40
seconds North, longitude 109 degrees 52 minutes 15 seconds West,
variation 25 degrees 2 minutes 30 seconds East, dip 85 degrees 7 minutes
27 seconds.
At daylight on the 14th we began to descend the range of hills leading
towards the river, and no small care was required to prevent the sledges
from being broken in going down these almost perpendicular heights, or
being precipitated into the glens on each side. As a precautionary
measure the dogs were taken off and the sledges guided by the men,
notwithstanding which they descended with amazing rapidity and the men
were thrown into the most ridiculous attitudes in endeavouring to stop
them.
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