172 FORCE OF THE RAPIDS. 



myself much disappointed ; but it bore hard 

 upon the men, whose utmost exertions would 

 thus be required in making the necessary prepar- 

 ations, at a time when they should rather have 

 been husbanding their strength for the ensuing 

 summer. We soon got to the southern extremity 

 of the lake, which is about forty miles long, and 

 twelve broad at the widest part; and, out of 

 respect to the distinguished corps to which some 

 of my crew belonged, and from a grateful remem- 

 brance of the deep interest manifested by its 

 officers * for the success of the expedition, and 

 of their friendly courtesies to myself, I called it 

 Artillery Lake. 



The river, by which it discharges itself into 

 Great Slave Lake, began its descent by an ugly 

 rapid, too hazardous to run, and yet scarcely so 

 dangerous as to induce us to make a portage of. 

 We compromised, therefore, by lowering half the 

 way, and carrying the rest. A second rapid was 

 run ; but we had not calculated on the amazing 

 force of so confined a torrent; and, just as we 

 gained the eddy, the old canoe got a twist which 

 nearly broke it in two. Another clump of pines 

 induced me to land; and, while the men examined 

 the quality of the timber, I obtained a set of 



t Col. Godby, Capt. Anderson, Lieuts. Tylden, Crau- 

 furd, &c. 



