96 INTRODUCTION. 



infallibly upset, should she even escape the danger 

 of the rocks, where otherwise she would be dashed 

 to pieces. 



The hauling of canoes over rapids affords a most 

 enlivening scene ; the activity of the Indians is only 

 in such instances brought in perfect play. Here 

 we see a party attempting to swim towards one of 

 the rocks which are partly raised above the surface 

 of the river, while others are wading alongside the 

 canoe up to their waists in water. Their cheerful 

 cry when, yielding to force, she stems the current 

 and is drawn by means of the rope towards the 

 rock where the Indians are standing, is a peculiar 

 feature of the scene attending the passing of a rapid, 

 and the roar of the water, and the wild grandeur of 

 the surrounding scenery, assist to make the picture 

 impressive. 



Where the nature of the cataract permits it, the 

 canoe in descending the river is let down by ropes, 

 to avoid its being dashed to pieces. But this is 

 frequently impracticable, and then her safety de- 

 pends entirely upon the steersman and the bowman 

 acting in concert and with decision. In descend- 

 ing, the canoe is generally kept in the centre and 

 force of the stream, and, carried forward, she shoots 

 along with the swiftness of lightning ; she arrives at 

 the edge of the cataract, and, balancing for a mo- 

 ment, she plunges headlong into the surge below, 

 dashing the spray on either side against the rocks 

 that bound the passage, so as almost completely to 

 ponceal the body of the canoe, leaving the men only 



