Chap. XII. BACK'S JOUKNEY TO THE POLAR SEA. 483 



time, and a trial of his patience, to repeat what has 

 already been said regarding this river. 



Having ascended the high grounds which divide 

 the northern from the southern streams, the 

 Aylmer, the Artillery, and the Clinton Colden 

 Lakes embellish the landscape, and discharge their 

 waters into the Great Slave Lake. Here Back de- 

 scribes, and gives a print of, a splendid cascade, 

 which he names Parry's Falls, and says it is one of 

 the grandest objects in nature. 



" The colour of the water varied from a very light to a 

 very dark green ; and the spray, which spread a dimness 

 above, was thrown up in clouds of light grey. Niagara, 

 Wilberforce's Falls in Hood's River, the falls of Kakabikka 

 near Lake Superior, the Swiss or Italian falls, — although 

 they may each ' charm the eye with dread,' are not to be 

 compared to this for splendour of effect. It was the most 

 imposing spectacle I had ever witnessed ; and, as its berg- 

 like appearance brought to mind associations of another 

 scene, I bestowed upon it the name of our celebrated navi- 

 gator, Sir Edward Parry, and called it Parry's Falls." — 

 p. 453. 



As they proceeded the Indians brought them 

 provisions from time to time ; and the good old 

 chief Akaitcho with his followers, though not very 

 successful, was not wanting in his contributions. 

 This old friend to Sir John Franklin was under- 

 going the usual course which old age and weak- 

 ness inflict on all the Indian chiefs. 



" He is no longer the same active and important person 

 that he was in those days ; for besides the infirmities that 



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