SALT RIVER. 77 



remarkably calm, and we heard the sound of 

 the Falls at a distance of twenty miles. Great 

 matted rafts of drift wood were floating down 

 the Slave River ; and on reaching the Rapids 

 and Falls, the water line on the rocks showed a 

 depression of six feet lower than I had ever seen 

 it. Numerous sand and mud banks, of consider- 

 able elevation, had been thrown up, and were 

 already green with incipient vegetation. On 

 the granitic rocks of the Mountain and Pelican 

 Falls (which were bare and clean when Sir J. 

 Franklin passed) was a deposition of at least 

 fourteen inches of mud, a proof how great a 

 quantity is annually carried down by the spring 

 floods into Slave Lake. 



August 4. — The thermometer this morning 

 was only 36° ; and a cold N.W. gale blew, which, 

 being directly against us, counteracted the cur- 

 rent, and almost prevented the canoes making 

 head- way ; we were, consequently, five hours in 

 accomplishing the twelve miles, which brought 

 us to the Salt River. Here there had been a 

 recent encampment of Indians. From the marks 

 about the place, it was supposed that they had 

 ascended the river to the plains, which are gene- 

 rally well stocked with buffalo and other animals ; 

 and, as it was material to have an interview, the 

 lading was taken out of my canoe ; and with 

 Mr. M'Leod for a companion, I went, quite 



