64 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
that it may be rendered navigable by the accu-— 
mulation of its waters. As the beavers perform 
this operation very effectually, endeavours have - 
been made to encourage them to breed in this 
place, but it has not hitherto been possible to re- 
strain the Indians from killing that useful animal 
whenever they discover its retreats. On the pre- 
sent occasion there was no want of water, the 
principal impediment we experienced being from 
the narrowness of the channel, which permitted 
the willows of each bank to meet over our heads, 
and obstruct the men at the oars. After proceed- 
ing down the stream for some time, we came toa 
recently-constructed beaver-dam through which an 
opening was made sufficient to admit the boat to 
pass. We were assured that the breach would 
be closed by the industrious creature in a single 
night. We encamped about eight miles from the 
source of the river, having come during the day 
seventeen miles and a half. 
On the 4th we embarked amidst a heavy rain, 
and pursued our route down the Echemamis. In 
many parts the morass, by which the river is 
nourished, and through which it flows, is inter- 
sected by ridges of rock which cross the channel, 
and require the boat to be lifted over them. In 
the afternoon we passed through a shallow piece 
of water overgrown with bulrushes, and hence 3 
