[&arRY] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 149 
soon dried our Clothes. After Dinner we observed that two of our Men 
had lopped away the Boughs and all the lower Branches of two Trees 
leaving a Top. This is called a Lop-Stick and the Voyageurs named it 
Garry’s Point. At half-past one we embarked, the Weather very cold 
and uncomfortable. At ? we encamped on the West Side of the Lake 
the Night very cold and we arose quite wetted by the Fog. 
Monday the 20th of August. Embarked at two. Hard frost. At 
5 we left Knee Lake and entered Jack River which is about 15 Miles in 
Length, full of Rapids and Shoal Water and so full of Fish that we saw 
Thousands of them at every Moment swimming on the Top of the Water 
and jumping into the Air. Entered Swampy Lake about 9 Miles in 
Length. Passed Logan’s Depot on the West Side now deserted.t Four 
wooden Buildings in excellent Order. At a quarter before one left the 
Swampy Lake properly so called from the low Water and swampy Banks 
and entered the Hill River which is full of Rapids and Cataracts the 
water so low that we struck at every Moment and at last about two 
o’clock when going down a Rapid we struck upon a Rock and broke our 
Canoe. Our Situation was very perilous. Our Canoe immediately began 
to fill and Mr. McGillivray who was following us close was bearing down 
upon us, and had he struck us both Canoes would have been knocked to 
pieces and all of us thrown into the violent Rapid below us? By the 
great Skill of the Steersman and a wonderful Effort he brought the 
Canoe alongside and we remained on the Rock. We immediately entered 
his Canoe and were taken on Shore. It then returned for our Baggage 
which was all safely landed though completely wetted. The Canoe was 
then turned over and in this State brought on Shore. We found four 
Feet of Bark had been knocked to Pieces. It was a miraculous Escape 
and so sudden that we had little time for Reflection. It appeared after- 
wards that we were in greater danger than we imagined. On Mr. McGil- 
livray approaching us we were actually going over the Rock when one of 
his Men jumped into the Water and held our Canoe but was too weak, 
and all would have gone down had not the other men assisted them. If 
we had been alone many of us must have perished or if we had escaped a 
watery Grave we should have been exposed to Starvation and a miserable 
Death. The Day was fortunately very fine and dry and with several 
fircs we soon dried our Papers, Linen, Beds, &c., for everything was 
wetted. Our Encampment had a singular Appearance, the Trees covered 
with our Linen, Sheets, Beds, &c., and the Earth covered with Papers. 
It now became necessary to consider how we should get on but the Cana- 

1 Mr. Calder and his attendant were the only tenants of this cheerless abode” 
{in 1819). Franklin (as above), p. 35. 
? Franklin had a very similar accident near this locality (as above), p. 34. 
Sec. IL., 1900. 10. 
