332 RAPIDS AND CASCADES, 



rapids, which now appeared breaking their furious 

 way through mounds and ranges of precipitous 

 sand-hills of the most fantastic outline. Some of 

 them resembled parts of old ruins or turrets, and 

 would have offered pleasing subjects for sketch- 

 ing. The course of the river became afterwards 

 more tortuous, and its clear blue tint yielded to 

 an olive green, more or less dark according to 

 the character of the muddy tributaries which 

 poured in their contents from both sides. As 

 we drew away from the influence of the cold 

 winds coming from Bathurst's Inlet, a propor- 

 tionate and most agreeable change took place in 

 the weather ; and at 2 p.m. of this day the ther- 

 mometer stood at 68° in the shade, and 84° 

 in the sun. We glided quickly along with the 

 strong current, passing by peaked sand-hills, 

 which rose like artificial structures amidst low 

 shelving prairies, covered with deer to the amount 

 of many thousands. After crossing a small lake, 

 where the current could just be distinguished in 

 the centre, the stream again contracted to about 

 three hundred yards, and precipitated itself over 

 a bed of rocks, forming rapids and cascades, 

 which compelled us to carry the principal bag- 

 gage ; a precaution, indeed, never omitted when 

 there was the least appearance of danger. Three 

 detached and lofty hills of gneiss, with obtuse 

 conical tops quite bare, here formed conspicuous 



