Wentzel, Willard Ferdinand. Fifteen letters from Wentzel at Mackenzie River to Roderick Mackenzie, 1807-1824. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0012

4

above one foot under Ground[.] The Flames are Pale and the smokes black – the Holes from whence the Blazes appear are Small & Numerous[.] No irruption is known amr among the Natives of ever having occurred – Such as is experienced in the Western Hemisphere[.]

Ores & Minerals}

Ores of Two Kinds only are known amongst the Natives, which are found in the Rocky Mountain – one of which is Supposed to be Silver, a Piece of which was traded Per one Mr Duncan Levingsten who transmitted the Same to the Gentlemen Proprietors of the North West Compy who resided in Athabasca the year 1796 – Since when no account of its Breath, depth or exten[t] had been received[.] The other is a metal with which in former times the Inhabitants made use of to Strike Fire – The Sparkles of which when Struck upon a flint are scarcely visible[.] [T]his ore Is of a Fiery Colour and is supposed to be a mixture of Steel & Earth – & is exceeding weighty[.] It is found in the Small Creek which falls into the River au Liard about Four days march from this Place[.]

Its mineral Produce is Coal, Black Lead of a very fine Cast, Orange Coloured Earth, which when treated by a fire, becomes red and thus serves as vermillion to the Inhabitants[.] Flint Stone in abundance[.] But these with the ores are the Produce of the River au Liard[.]

Marshes & Plains}

Marshes and Plains are too numerous to make mention of – for almost the whole extent of Country from this to Slave Lake is marshy & swampy – Plains too rare for me to make any observations upon[.]

Trees –

The Large wood is, The Red and white Pine,

[4]

L E G E N D :
 in red , modifications made by the editor(s).
 in lavender , modifications made by the assumed author(s).

View bigger image in JPEG format [ 155k ]