﻿208 RAMPAETS. July, 



and more compact sandstone overhangs the crum- 

 bling layers beneath it. 



Another eminence of the same spur, which rises 

 from the rapid a few miles lower down, shows the 

 same conical elevation with curved concentric beds. 

 In one spot there is a fault, with dislocation of the 

 beds. On both flanks of these inclined beds there 

 are layers of aluminous shale interstratifled with 

 limestone and sandstone. Where these shale beds 

 rest on the inclined rocks, they are also inclined, 

 but they rapidly assume the horizontal position 

 as they recede from the hill. 



In the earlier part of the summer, a steam-boat 

 could ascend the rapid without difficulty ; and this 

 great river might be navigated by vessels of con- 

 siderable burden, from the Portage of the Drowned 

 in Slave River, down to its junction with the sea, 

 being a navigation of from twelve to thirteen hun- 

 dred miles. 



In a dilatation of the river, about ten miles below 

 the rapid, bituminous shale lies horizontal!}^ in the 

 hollows of undulated beds of limestone. Having: 

 cooked supper at this spot, we embarked to drift 

 for the remainder of the nis-ht. 



o 



At 5 in the morning of the 28th, we were 

 at the commencement of the Ramparts, where 

 the river is hemmed in to the width of from four 

 hundred to eight hundred yards, and has a strong 

 current. This is the " second rapid " of Mackenzie, 



