they have to track
boats on the line. At 3 P.M. reached the mouth of the Liard,
which seemed as big as the Peace River. It comes in on the
left. A grand scene here. On ahead is Fort Simpson on a very
high bluff--the most picturesque spot we have seen yet on
this trip. They say they once had electric lights here, but
not now. Some farms and gardens, much to our surprise.
Frost comes about September 1st. They all say there will be
a city here some time. Maybe, but I wouldn't like to live
there.

"Slavies at this post. Two villages, very wild and
barbarous-looking. A great many fine canoes. The life is
very wild about us here. One canoe comes in loaded down with
rabbits which they have shot along the shores. Much gaudy
clothing and savage finery now. Every one wears moccasins.
One woman here does fine porcupine-quill work. She is Mrs.
McLeod, and is the daughter of Old-man Firth, who is the
factor at Fort McPherson, so they say. She is the wife of
the factor at Fort Nelson, and knows how to trade.
Quill-work costs a lot.

"At this point we lost the wife of an Indian trader who had
come this far north with us, also two Mounted Policemen, the
ex-Indian agent and his family, a preacher and his son, and
several others. The boat company is getting lighter now.

"There was a scow-load of supplies for treaties to be used
up the Liard River. Now we find that the Hudson's Bay
Company has left all this stuff at Fort Smith, away behind
us! This shows what sort of transport it is. The Northwest
Mounted Police grub, due last April, is not here yet. No
wonder this is a starving country. It is very wild and
interesting around here. John and Jesse and I are having a
splendid time. This is the best trip we ever had.

"We had a bishop on board here. We boys talked quite a while
with the post factor. He says there are many records written
in the Company books here which go back seventy-five years
and more. We bought a few things here which we thought we
could take along with us.

"_Friday, July 4th._--It looked funny to see the British
flag, and not the Stars and Stripes, to-day. We three boys
celebrated, just the same--we went out in the woods and shot
off our rifles several times. Weather is beautiful, soft,
and warm. Made many p