[GARRY ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 131 
happy Country produces and showing in Fact all the Folly of my open- 
ing Phantasy of a Want of Happiness in this Life. The Wildness of 
the Scene was added to by the melancholy white headed Eagle hovering 
over our Board. The Scenery from the Fall becomes more wild and 
romantic, the Rocks assume now the Character of Mountains. 
At half-past two we embarked and had to pass through a Part of 
the Rapid where a loaded Canoe had been lost under singular Circum- 
stances. The Steersman whose Duty it is to run the Rapid when drawn _ 
up by a Line dreamt that it broke and that the Canoe was lost and so 
strongly did the Dream take Possession of his Mind that he refused to 
remain and another supplied his Place. As he had dreamt, the Canoe 
was lost, but the Steersman who remained with the Canoe fortunately 
saved himself. After half an Hours paddling we arrived at the Portage 
de la Barriére which is about 60 Paces over a flat Rock. At a quarter 
past four we had passed this Portage and at 6 we arrived at the Grand 
Rapid of the River Winnipic which we run without meeting with any 
Accident, though many Canoes have been lost here, but the light Canoe 
is so buoyant that like a Cork it rises above every thing. The Rapid may 
be 400 Yards. After 10 minutes paddling we came to a small Rapid 
which we run and in a few Minutes arrived at the Dalles’ or Straits 
between Rocks which is a Décharge of a few Paces. We then came into 
a broad Channel having more the Appearance of a River the Banks low 
but covered with the Aspen, the Trunk like the Birch. At a quarter 
before seven we came to the Portage of the Riviére Blanche 400 Paces 
over a flat Rock. Here there is a fine Waterfall not of great Height but 
of gradual Descent over a Bed of Rocks a quarter of a mile broad. The 
River is a Continuation of the Winnipic but so called from its white 
Stream. After five minutes paddling we came to the Chute de Canton? 
which is over a Rock of 300 Paces to avoid a second Cataract which is 
over a Bed of High Rocks tumbling into a deep Abyss. At eight we 
encamped on the grand Galley which is an immense flat oval Rock and 
over which the River runs in Spring. Here there is another very fine 
Fall over a high Bed of Rocks. We were dreadfully annoyed by 
Musquitoes. 
Thursday the 2nd of August. Being amongst Rapids we could not 
start till Daylight. Thus it was nearly four before we found ourselves 
in our Canoe. After five minutes paddling we came to the Petite Roche 
Coupée which is about 40 Paces to avoid another very fine Fall. Here 

1 Petites Dalles. 
* The 2nd Portage de la Riv. Blanche, Henry (Coues) I., p.32. Keating’s Long, II., 
p. 145, has P. du Cantara. 
’ 
