SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 95 



offer. Another canoe came up soon after to exchange dried 

 moose meat for powder and balls ; this we agreed to, and 

 anxiously waited for our next meal in order to taste of this 

 new food. Whether it was owing to a bad choice of pieces, 

 or to the nature of the meat itself, we know not, but cer- 

 tain it is, that it was found veiy inferior to the jerked buf- 

 falo meat ; we found it dry, tough, and tasteless. 



On the 22d, we proceeded through the upper part of 

 Bonnet Lake, and soon reached the rapids. The current 

 was so swift, and the obstructions so great, that paddling 

 was found unavailing, and the voyagers preferred setting 

 the canoes with poles ; in order to diminish the load the 

 soldiers were landed ; they walked along the shore. Al- 

 though the bed of Winnepeek river displays in many places 

 larger falls, and bolder features than at this spot, yet there 

 was no part of the stream which pleased us more than that 

 which lies immediately above the lake. The river pre- 

 sents so many and such varied appearances, produced by 

 the rush of waters over the rocky barriers which extend 

 across its bed, that it was impossible for any of us to re- 

 main uninterested spectators of its wonderful scenery. Al- 

 though the rocks rise but to a moderate height, their out- 

 line is very bold ; the current at all times swift, often par- 

 takes of the nature of a torrent, and occasionally gives rise 

 to beautiful cascades. The corroding effect of the stream 

 upon the rock has produced many basins or coves in whicli 

 the water forms eddies, and, not unfrequently, presents a 

 smooth expanse, contrasting with the rough billows of the 

 adjoining torrent. The red colour of the sienite is re- 

 lieved by streaks of black mica which intersect its sur- 

 face, and give it the appearance of designs executed on a 

 gigantic scale. The trees which cover this rock offer to 

 the eye a pleasing aspect ; the aspen, distinguished by the 



