74 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. v. 



East Branch or the Main River. Pierre said lie knew the 

 East Branch for about thirty miles ; Louis said he had 

 been fifty miles up the main stream. 



The point which decided us was the probability of 

 meeting with Nasquapees, who were expected down from 

 Lake Ashwanipi on the great table land of Labrador. 

 The chart drawn by Indians at Seven Islands showed the 

 portages between the Main River and the East Branch, 

 or one of its tributaries, and the arrows they had made 

 indicated the direction which we ought to take. After some 

 discussion, both Pierre and Louis agreed that the Nasqua- 

 pees, or any party of Montagnais, coming from the interior 

 would most probably pass by the Main River ; and as it 

 was almost essential that we should procure a guide, we 

 determined to follow the old Montagnais route, and, if 

 possible, descend by the East Branch. We continued on 

 the main stream, but soon found our progress materially 

 arrested by the rapidity of the current. We tried first 

 one side and then the other, with much difficulty forcing 

 our way foot by foot against the torrent, sometimes 

 poling, then paddling, then dragging the canoes by the 

 bushes which lined the shore, or hauling them with a 

 line when tracking-ground permitted. In this way we 

 succeeded in making two miles in three hours ; and when 

 we landed to dine, we asked one another how we were to 

 reach the headwaters if the current continued as strong 

 as it was after leaving the Forks. 



' Louis, you Ve been some fifty miles up the river, you 

 say ; is it better as we get higher up the country ? ' 



' Worse - - more rapid ; don't think we can pass the 

 steep rocks.' 



