34 THE OTTAWA. 



the steam-boat which plies between that place 

 and By town, a village beautifully situated on 

 the heights between the Rideau and the Chau- 

 diere Falls ; in which latter, only the evening 

 before several raftsmen had been unfortunately 

 engulfed. Lieutenant Kains, who commanded the 

 steam-boat, could not be prevailed on to accept 

 any remuneration for the important service thus 

 rendered to us. 



During the night, two of our young hands 

 deserted; a casualty, however, which did not 

 give me any uneasiness, and relieved me from 

 any further apprehension on their account. In- 

 deed, the probability of such an event is usually 

 taken into account by those who are accustomed 

 to this mode of travelling, and a few extra men 

 are generally engaged as a reserve. 



April 28. — Having arrived at a portage — by 

 which term, it is almost unnecessary to say, is 

 understood a place where, by reason of some 

 obstruction to the navigation, it is necessary to 

 carry the baggage and canoes — we were kindly 

 invited to breakfast at the house of an Indian fur 

 trader of the name of Day. This old gentle- 

 man declared, that his feelings were so warmly 

 excited by the praiseworthy object of the expe- 

 dition, that he could hardly refrain, even at his 

 advanced age, from offering his services. At one 

 of the Company's posts, called Fort des Chats, 



