90 



The Levier, Trou and Deux Rivieres Rapids are all within a short 

 distance of one another but by means of tracking and portaging were 

 safely passed. Tracking in this case means lowering the canoe down 

 along the edge of the rapid by means of a rope 



The Trou Rapids, so named because here part of the river rushes 

 with tremendous volocity through a narrow cleft in the rock resembling 

 a trough, gives a splendid idea of the gigantic power of water. You 

 have doubtless seen the Chelsea Rapids at flood tide on the Gatineau. 

 The Deux Rivieres Rapids at low water bear a striking resemblance to 

 these. I asked a river driver if they ever ran them in tlieir big buns, 

 " No " he replied " not unless they get into them and can't help it." 



At the head and foot of all the Ottawa rapids the waters are per- 

 fectly alive with fish a species of whitefish, I bdiev . Up there they 

 call them shiners. They rise at flies in all directions but cannot be 

 caught by bait or spoon. You see a faint ripple on the water, a fin and 

 tail appear for an instant and disappear without the slightest noise or 

 splash. They make one think of sharks with their smooth, noiseless 

 movements. A few yards of fine netting and the larder could be 

 stocked in a few minutes. 



Between the Deux Rivieres Rapids and the Roche Capitaine the 

 most gloriously coloured scenery was passed through seen in a paint- 

 ing it would be called extravagant, ridiculous, absurd. 



It was marvellous. All around was one panorama of red of every 

 conceivable shade, from deej) maroon to delicate salmon yellow, from 

 deep orange to pale chrome, and green from dark myrtle to bright 

 emerald. It was like being in fairy land, and each turn of the river 

 brought it before us more vividly. 



The Roche Capitaine is the ugliest rapid between Mattawa and 

 Ottawa and took an entire day to traverse. To quote from Sir William 

 Logan's report : " The river with a strong current above presents in 

 middle distance and lower down, a fierce, violent and crooked rapid 

 which obstructing ledges at the elbow splir, into several narrow chan- 

 nels, driving the main body round a great cauldron-shaped space where 

 the rocks on the right are swept clean of nearly all loose material." At 

 the elbow spoken of by Sir Wm. Logan is a great rock called the Cap- 

 tain's Rock. Lower down these rapids are known as the Maribou 

 Rapids. There are eight dips in all and the distance covered between 

 three and four miles. 



As we advanced the scenery became still more worthy of rapture, 

 and we were fairly struck dumb with admiration and wonder that any- 

 thing could be so lovely. I cannot begin to describe it. Every bend 

 of the river seemed more beautiful and the colour brighter and more 

 varied than the last, and the view behind still more worthy of ecstasy 

 than the one in front. 



Three miles beyond tlie Village of Rockclifi" the Riviere du Moins 

 joins the Ottawa from the north. The entrance looked very grand. On 

 the right hand side is an immense hill, four or five hunderd feet high. 



