The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-15

they ascended in canoes. On the 10th NAV
they first got sight of the Rocky Mountains
and sent forward party to procure horses
and supplies from the east side. From the
west base Of the mountains they Travelled on
foot, carrying packs of so lbs. each, inclu.
ding their provisions, which consisted OF
pounded corn brought from the Columbia,
and pemican found in u cache. Before,
however, they commenced their foot march.
and after leaving the Columbia, they as
cended for some distance small stream
called Canoe river, from the fact that it was
upon It's banks the first canoes were con-
structed which descended to the Pacific, dis
tant by Arrowsmith's map 1900 miles"
Their march through the passes of the
mountains commenced on the lith May, and
"was very fatiguing in consequence Of the
depth of the snow on either side were i'm
mense glaciers or ice bound rocks on which
the rays of the setting sun reflected the
most beautiful prismatic colors. One of those
peaks was like fortress OF rock it rose
1900 feet perpendicularly, above the noun.
tain lakes, and had its summit covered with
ice" The party here passed near two lakes
not more than 300 or 400 yards in circuit
and two hundred yards apart" Canoe riv-
er takes its rise in one of them, flowing
westward into the Columbia, while the 9th
er lake gives birth to one OF the branches of
the Athabasca, which runs first eastward
then northward, and which, after it, june
ton with the Unjeghah, north OF the lake
Of the mountains, takes the name of Slave
river, as far as Slave Lake, and aitcrward
that of Mackenzie river, until it emptics into
the frozen ocean. On the 18th May they
began TO descend the eastern declivities OF
tho Rocky Mountains, and encamped under
some cypress trees-the common timber be.
ing stunted pine aud cedar. As striking
contrast, on the western side the hill tops
were covered with immense forests, mostly
of Norway pine and cedars Of prodigous
size. "l7th May, encamped on the margin
of a verdant plain called by the guide Coro
Prairie. lSth-Ioaded horses and shot sev-
en- wild ducks, reached Rocky Mountain
House, situated on the shore OF a little lake
in the midst of wood, surrounded, except on
the water side, by steep rocks, inhabited by
mountain sheep and goats, from here is seen
in the west the chain of the Rocky Noun
tains covered with perpetual snow"
People so often speak OF the Rocky
Mountains that desire here 10 say few
words on that subject. They extend nearly
in straight line from the 35th parallel 10
the mouth Of Mackenzie river 10 the Arctic
in latitude about G5 deg. north This dis
tance, 30 deg ofatitude, equivalent TO 2250
miles, is however, only the mean side Of
right angled triangle, the base Of which oc-
cupies rs deg. of longitude, in latitude 81
deg. or &c deg. that is to say, about 1000
while the chain Of mountains from the by.
po,henuse, 40 that the real, AMI as it were,
diagonal length Of the chain across the con.
tinent is nearly 5000 miles from southeast TO
northwest. ln such a vast extent OF noun.
tains, the perpendicular height. and width
Of base, must he very unequal. The party
were eight days in crossing them, whence |
conclude from our rate Of travel, that they
have, at this point, about latitude "a deg,
a base OF 200 mies-with an altitude Of
about 5000 feet above the sea- while the
real height Of the Rocky mountains, AZ
since ascertained, averages 10000 feet, the
highest known peak being 10000 feet.
From the mountains the party descended
in canoes fastened together, and on the lst
June reached the confluence OF the river
Pembina, which flows from the south and
takes It's rse in spur Of the Rocky Noun
tains. On the 2nd June they reached Slave
Lake river" met band Of kinisteneaux
who had Just killed buffalo, which they
sod for a brass kettle" Passing by tor
tuous route through the region Of the Red
Fix and Athabasca rivers, which were OBJ
structed by boulders, some Of the party had
10 take 10 the shore, while the men dragged
along the canoes, laborious and tedious
operation and 20 On, on foot and in canoes
until they reached the main stream OF the
Saskatchewan on the 18th june. This
river flows over bed composed OF sand
and mari. which contributes not little 10
diminish the purity and transparency Of I's
waters which, like those Of the Missouri,
are turbid and whitish except for that. II
is one Of The grandest rivers in the world
The banks are perfectly charming, and offer
in many places, q scene the fair's', the most
smiling the best diversified, that can be be-
held or imagined hills in rare forms crowned
with superb groves, valleys sgreabIy en-
bowered and embrowDed at evening and
at morning by the prolonged shadows Of the
hills, and OF the woods which sdorn them ;
herd. Of lightlimbed anteopts and majestic
buffalo. bounding the slopes Of the hills, or
trampling with ponderous tread the verdure
OF the plains all these shampaigped beau
lie. reflected. and doubled a. it were by the
waters Of the gently gliding river. the me
loiioa. and var.eli .ong u thousand birds,
perched on the uee.,0p, the refreshing
breath Of the balmy bretzs, the serenity Of
the .ky. the purity and salabriiy Of the air,
all in a word, pours cou,entment and joy
into the sol Of the enchanted spectator. |.
is beyond, Aod above all, IN the morning
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