46 BOWDOIN BOYS IN LABRADOR. 



northeast and after a few miles passes into a deep canon, chris- 

 tened "Bowdoin Canon," between precipitous walls of archeac 

 rock from six hundred to eight hundrd feet high. This canon was 

 afterward found to be about twenty-five miles long and winding 

 in its course. In but few places is the slope such as to permit a 

 descent to the river bank proper, and the canon is so narrow, 

 and the walls of such perpendicular character, as to make the river 

 invisible from a short distance. It might truly be said that the dis- 

 covery of this canon, infinitely grander on account of its age than 

 any other known to geology, and surpassed by few in size, is the 

 most important result of the expedition. Several photographs 

 of it were made, which were not injured by the exposure to 

 wet and rough usage that the camera had to receive during the 

 return journey, and alone convey an adequate idea of this most 

 wonderful of nature's wonders. 



At night the first camp away from the river was made, on 

 the plateau. The two men felt that the next day must be their 

 last of advance, so weakened were they by the terrible tramp- 

 ing over deep moss and the persistent bleeding by black flies. 

 The stock of provisions, too, was running low, and with their 

 diminishing strength was a warning to turn back that could not 

 be neglected. A half dozen grouse, three Canada and three 

 rough, had been added to their supplies, but even with full 

 meals they could not long stand the double drain upon their 

 strength. 



In the morning a high hill was seen, for which they started, 

 drawing slightly away from the river. Soon a roar from the 

 direction of the river was noticed, which differed from the ordi- 

 nary roar of the rapids. Altering their course it was found the 

 roar " kept away," indicating an unusually heavy sound. Push- 

 ing forward, thinking it must be the desired falls, they soon 

 came out upon the river bank, with the water at their level. 

 This proved the falls to be below them, and looking down they 

 could be seen " smoking" about a mile distant. A distinct 

 pounding had also been felt for some time previous, which further 

 assured them that the falls were at hand. The roar that had 

 attracted their attention was of the river running at the plateau 



