May 14, 1793. The 120th Meridian.

MAY THE 14th. 1793

(227 years ago today)

Excerpts from the Journals of Alexander MacKenzie, regarding his epic journey overland to the Pacific Ocean from Montreal; via the Peace River.

   “The weather was clear, and the air sharp, when we embarked at half past four”

After a few miles of river course they had to stop and repair the leaky canoe which he says “we lost an hour” and at noon they stopped to take a meridian altitude, which he reckoned to be 56.10.19 North latitude. *

Sometimes his recorded “miles”, and the actual miles on the map differ, which can make his course somewhat difficult to follow. Also the river courses themselves have changed in unknown ways in the last 200 years, which can also affect the actual miles covered, especially where the river valley is really wide. The next land-mark that he mentions is: 

“Here the Bear River which is of a large appearance, falls in from the East…”

He often refers to the “East” or “West” side of the river, as he has been heading in a general SW direction. Even though he is now going in a mostly Westerly direction, he still refers to the “West side” or “East side” of the river in his descriptions. I think that MacKenzie’s “Bear River” is likely the Pouce Coupe River, which actually comes in from the South. On this date they have passed by the areas we know as Clayhurst and Rolla Landing, and they have crossed the 120° Meridian West, which will much later become the provincial boundary of the new province of British Columbia.  

     “The land...has the appearance of being a good beaver country; indeed we saw some of those animals in the river. Wood is in great plenty, and several rivulets added their streams to the main river. A goose was the only article of provision which we procured to-day…” 

     Shot with a “fowling piece”, probably much like the one shown here, from the 1760’s. (One goose in the kettle, for 10 hungry men) 

“...we encamped on an island about seven in the evening.” 

      In my estimation, the camp on this day would  have been a mile or so downstream (East) from the mouth of the Kiskatinaw River, which he won’t see until the next morning. 

*note- In print, this reading appears as 56.1.19 N. However, nowhere does the river course appear that far south, heading upstream. A reading of 56.10.19 N would be his actual latitude on this day. I believe this was a mis-print in the printing of his Journal, that was missed in editing, and not a reckoning mistake on his part.