70 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
we reached the mouth of the Saskatchawan at 
midnight, having run thirty-two miles. 
Sunday, October 10.—The whole of this day 
was occupied in getting the boats from the mouth 
of the river to the foot of the grand rapid, a 
distance of two miles. There are several rapids 
in this short distance, during which the river 
varies its breadth from five hundred yards to 
half a mile. Its channel is stony. At the grand 
rapid, the Saskatchawan forms a sudden bend, 
from south to east, and works its way through a 
narrow channel, deeply worn into the limestone 
Strata. The stream, rushing with impetuous 
force over a rocky and uneven bottom, presents 
a sheet of foam, and seems to bear with im- 
patience the straitened confinement of its lofty 
banks. A flock of pelicans, and two or three 
brown fishing eagles, were fishing in its agitated — 
waters, seemingly with great success. There 
is a good sturgeon fishery at the foot of the 
rapid. Several golden plovers, Canadian gros- 
beaks, cross-bills, wood-peckers, and pin-tailed 
grouse, were shot to-day; and Mr. Back killed 
_ a small striped marmot. This beautiful little 
animal was busily employed in carrying in its 
distended pouches the seeds of the American 
vetch to its winter hoards. 
