[Garry ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 97 
Beds are spread. First, Canvas which forms the Cover of the Bed and 
our Seat in the Canoe. Then a Bed of Blankets sewn together which 
form an Article of Trade in the Interior; on these two fine Blankets as 
Sheets and above this a coloured Blanket as a Coverlid. The Fire is 
kept up all Night for the Purpose of boiling the Men’s Dinner which 
consists in Indian Corn and Pork, from which they are called Pork 
Eaters. 
Friday the 15th [June]. Embarked at 3 o’clock and soon arrived 
at the Portage des Chénes—so called from the Quantity of Oaks which 
grow on the Island. It isa most enchanting Spot; the most magnificent 
Oaks intermixed with the Elm, Plane, Mountain Ash, most fragrant 
Shrubs, Roses in full Bloom, and a Variety of Forest Flowers. This 
Portage is about 500 Paces and the Road good. Our Enemies the Mos- 
quitoes were on the Wing and commenced their Attacks. There are 3 
Portages of the Chaudiére the great, the less and this of the Chéne. The 
country after we again embarked is much cleared away on each side by 
Settlers. Here the River again widens and is called Le Lac des Chau- 
diéres. The width is from 7 to 4 miles. We passed several Flights of 
Pigeons. The Lac des Chaudières is about 30 miles in Length. After 
running this Distance the Falls of the Portage du Chat are seen. Before 
coming to them we landed to pay our Respects to a Mr. Hodgson, who 
had formerly been Governor of Moose ; he is a very old man and living 
in great Poverty having lost his money through a dishonest Agent. 
These Falls, though of a different Character, are even more romantic 
than the Chaudière. The Chaudière is one Fall, but here the whole Body 
of the River being fully two miles in Breadth runs over rocky Islands 
in Pinnicles and covered with Wood, and forms an innumerable number 
of Falls (you see at once fifteen), the Water appearing angry with the 
Obstacles which oppose its Progress; a Battle between Rock and Water 
over a mile of Rocks ragged and uneven. The Portage is here very 
difficult and dangerous but only 270 Paces. Here we dined in misery, 
nothing could prevent the Attacks of our relentless Enemies. The Pas- 
sage from hence after two miles is through a winding channel and con- 
sists entirely in the most frightful Rapids, running at least ten miles an 
Hour over Beds of Rock. Here the skill of the Voyageurs now shows 
itself; at one moment using their Poles, then their Paddles, 
then jumping into the Water, now using the Tow Line which if 
it was to break would end in certain Destruction to all. After 
passing this dangerous Channel you arrive at the Lac des Chats so called 
from the Quantity of Racoons which formerly filled the adjacent Woods. 
We passed two trading Posts of the North West [Company], miserable 
Huts, but here the hardy Western encounters all the Severity of the 
