CHAP. xvn. PASSAGE OF RAPIDS. 269 



boulders in its bed and probably received severe bruises. 

 With difficulty a paddle was thrown to him, which he 

 dexterously caught, and with its assistance he succeeded 

 in stemming the torrent and reaching the shore. 



Descending rapids is certainly one of the most delight- 

 ful features of canoe travelling. With skillful canoe men 

 there is little or no danger, if the water is sufficiently 

 deep, but many sad accidents have happened from want 

 of proper caution or skill. Indians generally delight in 

 running rapids, and, being accustomed from their youth 

 upwards to use the paddle, they thoroughly understand 

 its power, as well as the force of the water against which 

 they have to contend. Ke-way-den (North wind), an 

 Ojibway, was one of the most daring Indians in the 

 descent of a rapid I have ever met with. The Seven 

 Portages on the magnificent Winnipeg are very formi- 

 dable, almost cataracts, and can only be descended by 

 well-manned canoes, thirty to thirty-six feet long. 

 When shooting these rapids with some of the Canadian 

 exploring party in 1857, Ke-way-den would stand in the 

 bow of the canoe just as the frail craft was about to make 

 the plunge, and, whirling his paddle round his head, he 

 would utter a wild scream of excitement, turn round, and 

 look at the men in the canoe, who were as intent and 

 earnest as if they were paddling for their lives. As the 

 bow of the canoe dipped, Ke-way-den would resume his 

 proper position and glance back with a smile, as much as 

 to say, ' There 's fun for you.' But poor Ke-way-den, bold 

 as he was at the head of a rapid or battling with its 

 heaving and surging billows, shrank with superstitious awe 

 from a little harmless compass. 



