414 ANOTHER DANGEROUS RAPID. 



Franklin's canoe capsized here in 1822, on liis first 

 expedition to the Mackenzie, and one of the crew 

 was drowned. In running the Mountain Rapid one 

 of the boats was badlj " stove," but such accidents 

 occurred so frequently, that they were disregarded, 

 except for the delay occasioned by the necessary 

 repairs. Almost every Hudson's Bay man is a rough 

 carpenter, and a hole is speedily patched up with a 

 piece of plank, some resin, and a few nails. On 

 the 7th we met the Athabasca Brigade, and shortly 

 afterwards encountered a brigade of boats under 

 Mr. Anderson, of which three were laden with pem- 

 mican and flour, for the use of any portion of the 

 sought or searching expeditions which might ascend 

 the Mackenzie. 



The grand Rapid du Fort de Traite required great 

 judgment in its descent, having three successive 

 stages of passage. Here five or six years ago an 

 English half-caste lost his life ; having missed his 

 footing in the boat of which he was bowman, he 

 pitched headlong into the seething torrent, and was 

 drowned : his term of service had just expired, and 

 he was returning to the Red River colony, accom- 

 panied by his wife and family, who at the time 

 of the disaster were quietly seated at the foot of 

 the rapid, awaiting the descent of the boats, and 



