ACCIDENT IN OUR PASSAGE. I73 



sights, which gave the latitude 62° 53' 26" N. ; 

 longitude, 108° 28' 24" W. ; and variation, 38° 



The wood was no way better than that seen 

 in the early part of the morning ; and we pushed 

 from the bank, with the intention of going care- 

 fully down the stream ; though a look of inde- 

 cision, if not of positive apprehension, betokened 

 some inward working in the steersman's mind, 

 for which I was utterly unable to account, until 

 informed, that for days past Maufelly had been 

 talking about the dangers he did know, and the 

 dangers he did not know, in the Ah-hel-dessy. 

 The Indians, he said, never attempted it in any 

 manner, either up or down; and, as he was not in 

 a hurry to die, though he was willing to walk on 

 the rocks, he would not, on any account, run it 

 in the canoe. I shamed him out of this unmanly 

 resolution ; and when he and his companion had 

 indulged in a laugh among themselves, we slipt 

 down another rapid. However, on trying the 

 fourth, the steersman became so unnerved, as to 

 lose all self-command ; and, by not cooperating 

 with De Charloit, fixed us against a sharp rock, 

 that cut the canoe. Happily, it twirled round, 

 and floated till we reached the shore. The man's 

 confidence was gone ; and, rather than incur any 

 more such risks in the foaming rapids before us, 

 I abandoned an attempt which the Indian per- 



