As a matter of fact it was the river afterwards called Fraser.
If you look at the map of British North America, and then at the map of Russian Asia--Siberia--you will notice a marked difference in the arrangement of the waterways.

Those of the Canadian Dominion, on the whole, flow more eastwards and westwards, or at any rate radiate in all directions, so as to constitute the most wonderful system of natural canals possessed by any country or continent.

On the contrary, the rivers of Siberia flow usually in somewhat parallel lines from south to north.

Siberia also is far less well provided than British North America with an abundance of navigable rivers, streams, and great lakes.

Therefore the traveller in pre-railway days wishing to cross Siberia from west to east or east to west was obliged to have recourse to wheeled traffic, to ride, or to walk.