OF THE POLAR SEA, 61 
which obstruct the channel and produce as many 
cascades. I shall long remember the rude and 
characteristic wildness of the scenery which sur- 
rounded these falls; rocks piled on rocks hung’ 
in rude and shapeless masses over the agitated 
torrents which swept their bases, whilst the 
bright and variegated tints of the mosses and 
lichens, that covered the face of the cliffs, con- 
trasting with the dark green of the pines, which 
crowned their summits, added both beauty and 
grandeur to the general effect of the scene. Our 
two companions, Back and Hood, made accurate 
sketches of these falls. At this place we observed 
a conspicuous lop-stick, a kind of land-mark, which 
I have not hitherto noticed, notwithstanding its 
great use in pointing out the frequented routes. 
It is a pine-tree divested of its lower branches, 
and having only a small tuft at the top remain- 
ing. This operation is usually performed at the 
instance of some individual emulous of fame. 
He treats his companions with rum, and they in 
return strip the tree of its branches, and ever 
after designate it by his name. 
In the afternoon, whilst on my way to super- 
intend the operations of the men, a stratum of 
loose moss gave way under my feet, and I had 
the misfortune to slip from the summit of a rock 
into the river, betwixt two of the falls. My at- 
