enormous
expense to the concern. The Hon. Committee are aware of my exertions
in that quarter, themselves, as I had the honour of being in direct
communication with them while there.

"I have the honour, &c.
(Signed) "JOHN MCLEAN."

CHAPTER XVII.

SITUATION OF FORT SIMPSON--CLIMATE--THE LIARD--EFFECTS OF
THE SPRING FLOODS--TRIBES INHABITING MACKENZIE'S
RIVER DISTRICT--PECULIARITIES--DISTRESS THROUGH
FAMINE--CANNIBALISM--ANECDOTE--FORT GOOD HOPE SAVED BY THE
INTREPIDITY OF M. DECHAMBAULT--DISCOVERIES OF MR. CAMPBELL.

Mr. Lewis embarked for York Factory on the 4th of August. I set out on
my return on the 6th, and arrived at Fort Simpson on the 22d. Having
prepared and sent off the outfit for the different posts with all
possible expedition, I found myself afterwards at leisure to note down
whatever I thought worthy of being recorded with reference to this
section of the country.

There are seven posts in this district; three on the River Liard and
its tributaries; three on the banks of McKenzie's River, and one
on Peel's River. About two degrees to the north of Good Hope, Fort
Simpson, the depot of the district, is situated at the confluence of
the Liard and McKenzie, in lat. 61 deg. north. Heat and cold are here
felt in the extremes; the thermometer frequently falls to 50 deg. minus in
winter, and rises sometimes to 100 deg. in the shade in summer. The River
Liard has its source in the south among the Rocky Mountains: its
current is remarkably strong; and in the early part of summer, when
swollen by the melting of the snow, it rushes down in a foaming
torrent, and pours into the McKenzie, still covered with solid ice,
when a scene ensues terrific and grand:--the ice, resisting for some
time the force of the flood, ultimately gives way with the noise of
thunder, and clashing, roaring and tumbling, it rolls furiously along
until it accumulates to such an extent as to dam the river across.
This again presents, for a time, a solid barrier to the flood, which
is stopped in its course; it then rises sometimes to the height of
thirty and forty feet, overflowing the adjacent country for miles,
and levelling the largest trees with the ground. The effects of this
frightful conflict are visible in all the lower grounds along the
river. The trading posts are situated on the higher grounds, yet they
are not secure from danger. Fort Good Hope was swept clean away some
years ago, and its inm