380 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



dangers of the sea, magnified to them by their 

 novelty." 



At a few miles up Hood's River, it runs for 

 about a mile through a narrow chasm, the walls of 

 which are upwards of two hundred feet in height, 

 and quite perpendicular. Through this chasm the 

 river precipitates itself in two magnificent falls, 

 close to each other. Franklin named these cascades 

 " Wilberforce Falls," as a tribute of his respect for 

 that distinguished Christian philanthropist. The 

 large canoes not being suited to this river, two 

 smaller ones were constructed out of their materials, 

 each sufficient to contain three persons, to be used 

 for the purpose of crossing any river that might 

 obstruct their progress. 



The construction of the new canoes detained 

 them till the 1st of September, when it was de- 

 cided to make a direct line to Point Lake, distant 

 only 149 miles in a straight line from where they 

 were. Having proceeded twelve miles, a snow-storm 

 obliged them to encamp, and on the 3rd the last 

 piece of pemmican and a little arrow-root were 

 distributed for supper. The violence of the storm 

 continued till the 7th, and for several days, having 

 nothing to eat, and no means of making a fire, they 

 remained whole days in bed. The wind continued 

 so strong and the weather so severe, that there was 

 no chance of getting on. A temperature of 20°, with- 

 out fire, the party weak from fasting, their garments 



