Arctic Land Expedition. 389 
rapids and falls. The rapids are generally more navigable near 
the banks, but they frequently extend across the stream, and 
then the labour of the boat’s crew becomes excessive, every 
man being obliged to turn into the water and assist in carrying 
the boat sometimes to the distance of half a mile before they 
gain the head of one of those terrible impediments. The Com- 
pany’s men, upon turning one of the points of the river, observed 
the officers of the expedition making desperate efforts to get 
through the mud along the banks; some of them were up to 
their knees, others up to their waists, while the men were hand- 
ing the boats over a most violent rapid, which, though but halfa 
foot deep, rendered it necessary that those who stood in the water 
should hold fast by the boat, the impetuosity of the stream being 
so extraordinary as not unfrequently to overturn a man in an in- 
stant, and dash him to pieces against the rocks and huge stones 
which lie scattered along the bed of the river. Indeed, before 
the Company’s boats had reached those of Lieutenant Frank- 
lin, it was suspected that the expedition had already met with 
more hardships than they had any notion of encountering at so 
early a period. Several of the tin cases which had contained 
the preserved meats were seen at the different up-putting places 
(the spots of ground on the banks chosen for passing the nights 
upon), and those miserable abodes were drenched with rain, and 
presented an appearance the most appalling. Two black bears 
were seen prowling abovt, and devouring some of the luxuries 
which the travellers had ascertained it was impossible to convey, 
in any considerable quantities, further up the river ; and along 
the banks were seen strong symptoms of the inexperience of 
those, who had gone forward. The traders with the North 
American Indians, in travelling to their posts, kindle fires of im- 
mense magnitude upon landing to put up for the night. Every 
man carries his fire-bag, containing all the necessary apparatus. 
They proceed to hew dowr the trees, an office which they per- 
form with wonderful dexterity. ‘The fires are lighted, the tents 
for the officers pitched, and the only regular meal taken during 
the 24 hours, served up in as comfortable a manner as possible 
under the circumstances. 
As the travellers advanced, the mild season not having yet 
begun to disappear, vast herds of grey deer were observed passing 
the rivers towards the Esquimaux lands; and the Indians who 
were accompanying the expedition gave extraordinary proofs of 
their activity, by rushing upon the animals in the water, and 
striking Jong knives into their hearts. —Lieutenant Franklin, on 
entering the Hill River, so called from a neighbouring eminence, 
the only one that presented itself between York Factory and Cum- 
berland, had reason to express surprise that trading goods could 
be 
