364< Sinclair's falls. 



large fall not far from us, and of having seen 

 some marks on his way. In the afternoon, the 

 journey was resumed ; and having followed the 

 turn to the north, and got down the rapids, we 

 made a portage at Sinclair's Falls ; so named 

 after one of the steersmen, who has been already 

 frequently mentioned, and who was so complete 

 a boatman as to be equal to the duty of the 

 bow also, which station indeed he had all along 

 filled. 



The river was now near a mile broad, full of 

 small rocky islands, with falls between each, not 

 unlike the Pelican Fall in the Slave River. The 

 boat was lowered down ; and following the 

 bend, which was bordered by the sand-hills, we 

 came to an opening disclosing some distant 

 mountains, towards which it was thought our 

 course would lie. Conjecture, however, was 

 useless : even here, we were twice thrown out by 

 the overlapping of low points and by counter 

 currents ; but at last we found a wide channel 

 running to the S. E. At its entrance the fourth 

 cache of pemmican was made ; and as it was too 

 late to see the stones in the water, we encamped. 



July 25th. — The weather was raw and cold, 

 though the wind was southerly, and the ther- 

 mometer 48°. The banks on either side were 

 low, but curiously paved with round stones, 

 probably forced in by ledges of grounded ice. 



