PICTURESQUE WATER-FALLS. 401 



for the night, as here it was necessary to transport 

 the boats also by land, a distance of about four 

 hundred yards. This was accomplished next morning, 

 and our journey was continued to the Embarras, so 

 called from the great quantities of drift wood which 

 obstruct the stream and render a portage of every- 

 thing necessary. The island rapid was narrow and 

 swift, but we were enabled to ascend it with half- 

 laden craft. The " Cassette," our next difficulty, and 

 the last rapid in Slave River, was of pictm-esque 

 beauty : it was composed of several falls in succession, 

 one of which, viewed from below, was quite a gem 

 among Nature's bountiful productions : the water fell 

 in dense broken volumes between two portals of 

 abrupt black rock, steep and massive ; sparkling 

 silvery spray, diamond-like in the brilliance of its 

 hues, becapped the mass, dancing and glistening in 

 the bright sunlight as if in gladness at its freedom ; 

 a back ground of hilly foliage, varied in light and 

 colour, perfected this exquisite combination of still 

 and animated scenery. 



This rapid being impassable we had to renew the 

 labour of a portage, " carrying " over bare rock 

 for about 400 yards' distance, over which also the 

 boats w^ere dragged. A new operation had now 

 to be performed ; the numerous portages over rock 



