180 Mr Audubon o?i the Irnjirovements 



right against tlie; current. The rest place themselves on the 

 land-side of the foot-way of the vessel, put, one end of their 

 poles on the ground, the other against their shoulders, and push 

 with all their, might. As each of the. men reaches the stern, he 

 crosses to the other side, runs along it, and comes again to the 

 landward side of the. bow, when he recommences operations. 

 TheJbargein the mean time is ascending at the rate not exceedt 

 ing one mile in the.hour. 



! The bar is at length passed; and as the shore in sight is 

 straight on both sides of the river, and the current uniformly 

 sti'ong, the poles are laid aside, and the men being equally divi- 

 ded, those on the river-side take to their oars, while those on 

 the land-side lay hold of the branches of willows, or other trees, 

 and thus slowly propel the boat. Here and there, however, the 

 trunk of a fallen tree, partly lying on the bank, and partly pro- 

 jecting beyond it, impedes their progress, and requires to be 

 doubled. This is performed by striking it with the iron points 

 of the poles and gafF-hooks. The sun is now quite low, and the 

 barge is again secured in the best harbour within reach. The 

 navigators cook their suppers, and betake themselves to theii' 

 blankets or bears'-skins to rest, or perhaps light a large fire on 

 the shore, under the smoke of which they repose, in order to 

 avoid the persecutions of the myriads of moschettoes which oc- 

 cur during the whole summer along the river. Perhaps, from 

 daw);i to sunset, the boat may have advanced fifteen miles. If 

 so, it has done well. The next day the wind proves favourable^ 

 tl^e sail is set, the boat takes all advantages, and meeting with 

 no accident, has ascended thirty miles, — perhaps double that 

 distance. The next day comes with a very different aspect. 

 The wind is riglit a-head, the shores are without trees of any 

 kind, and the canes on the banks are so thick and stout, that 

 not even the cordelles can be used. This occasions a halt. 

 The time is not altogether lost, as most of the men, being pro~ 

 vided with rifles, betake themselves to the woods, and search for 

 the deer, the bears, or the turkeys that are generally abundant 

 there. Three day? may pass before the wind changes, and the 

 advantages gained on the previous fine day are forgotten. Again 

 the boat proceeds, but in passing over a shallow place runs on 

 a log, swings with the current, but hangs fast, witK her lea-side 



