ARRIVAL AT FORT RELIANCE. 453 



Hood's River, the falls of Kakabikka near Lake 

 Superior, the Swiss or Italian falls, — although 

 they may each " charm the eye with dread," are 

 not to be compared to this for splendour of effect. 

 It was the most imposing spectacle I had ever 

 witnessed ; and, as its berg-like appearance 

 brought to mind associations of another scene, 

 I bestowed upon it the name of our celebrated 

 navigator, Sir Edward Parry, and called it 

 Parry's Falls. 



September 27th. — The journey was resumed 

 at an early hour. On passing my resting place 

 of the preceding spring, I was surprised to see 

 the havoc caused by the summer storms, which 

 had up torn by the roots and laid prostrate the 

 tallest pines of the forest; and the devastation 

 was even greater as we neared the lake. Late 

 in the forenoon we arrived at Fort Reliance, 

 after an absence of nearly four months ; tired 

 indeed, but well in health, and truly grateful 

 for the manifold mercies we had experienced in 

 the course of our long and perilous journey. 

 The house was standing, but that was all ; for it 

 inclined fearfully to the west, and the mud used 

 for plastering had been washed away by the 

 rain. The observatory was in little better state ; 

 and my canoe had been splintered by lightning. 

 Nothing, in short, could present a more cheerless 

 appearance for a dwelling : but the goods, and 



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