Excerpts from the daily journals of Alexander MacKenzie on his epic Voyage to find an overland route to the Pacific Ocean
"We embarked this morning at four in a very heavy fog. The water had been continually rising, and, in many places, overflowed its banks. The current also, was so strong that our progress was very tedious, and required the most laborious exertions.”
Picture 1. A foggy river morning.
He chronicles the distance traveled on the river to-day at 12 and a half miles, mostly heading South-South-East. “Laborious exertions”, from four in the morning, until nine at night. Going upstream against the raging current and rising water with a heavily laden canoe is the greatest obstacle on his journey so far...now the water is so high it’s difficult to even find a place to camp for the night.
Other than their daily "regale" of rum, the men obviously drank the river and lake water that was always present beside their canoe. They used hand-made individualized "canoe cups", which fastened to their belt or clothing and were always handy.
Picture 2. A Canoe Cup.
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