142 EXPEDITION TO THE 



we could feel in many places the earth quaking under us 

 from the great concussion produced by the fall of water. 



Proceeding down the river, about ten miles below the 

 falls of Kakabikka, we encamped at a portage, occasioned 

 by a considerable bed of flint or silex in every respect 

 similar to that observed at the Mountain portage. It is 

 probable that this flint was in like manner enclosed in the 

 slaty rock, and that being of a more durable nature it has 

 resisted decomposition, while all the surrounding slate was 

 washed away. At this place we found large plums, appa- 

 rently of a good quality, but they were not yet ripe. The 

 next day, we proceeded on our journey, and were over- 

 taken by a canoe in which one of the partners of the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company, Mr. Henry, was travelling. We had 

 the pleasure of witnessing a spirited competition between 

 his canoe-men and ours, in which the former had the ad- 

 vantage. The country improved as we advanced ; the 

 banks of the river were generally low, and covered with a 

 fine vegetation, indicating a strong soil. We passed at the 

 foot of a hill called Thunder Mountain; it is supposed to 

 be about five hundred feet high. We passed the ruins of 

 the old fort de Meuron, erected by Lord Selkirk. We 

 were likewise shown the remains of a winter road opened 

 by him from this river to the Grand Portage ; it extends 

 in a southerly direction, and is about thirty-six miles long. 

 As we descended the river, divided into three channels, 

 we took the northernmost, and at about ten o'clock on the 

 morning of the 13th, we reached Fort William, having per- 

 formed a journey of about eight hundred and twenty miles 

 in twenty-seven days, and without accident. The usual pas- 

 sage is about twenty days, and in some cases the distance 

 has been travelled in fifteen, yet considering the nature of 



