66 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



birds (probably all are not strictly gulls) are only 

 occasional visitors to that district. Some are said to 

 breed in the marshes, but I found no eggs myself. The 

 common tern, Sterna hirundo, was here in considerable 

 numbers. This is, I suppose, the Sterna fluviatilis of the 

 English. It appears to me to be the same bird. Of the 

 next most numerous there is no doubt. The kittiwake, 

 Eissa tridaciyla, as well as the Sterna, is probably not a 

 permanent inhabitant of the lakes, but visits parts, at all 

 events, in great numbers. Another numerous gull I 

 should certainly think to be a mere variety of Larus 

 canus, the common English gull. There was also a 

 curlew, Numenius lorealis ; but I only saw odd birds of 

 this species. 



After a day or two's rest we paddled up the Kamenis- 

 taquoia, and resumed our journey on 10th June. The 

 river had a strong current, and after paddling, as I 

 suppose, some fourteen or fifteen miles, which took us 

 five hours, we had to make a portage at the " Mountain 

 Portage" as it is called by the voyageurs, to whom, of 

 course, it is well known. The Kamenistaquoia is full of 

 rapids, and is most difficult of ascent ; but it is to be 

 noted that one part of a journey is always more trouble- 

 some than another. Thus, for days you will be ascend- 

 ing the high grounds, and daily making several portages 

 at great expense of time and work ; and then for an 

 equal time be descending, shooting the rapids, and 

 making portages only where the cataracts are too 

 dangerous to be shot. 



Near Mountain Portage there is a magnificent water- 

 fall the " Mountain Fall." It has a sheer fall of about 

 two hundred feet, is broad and of great volume ; and the 

 majestic rocks which surround and hem it in are half 

 obscured by the clouds of spray which arise from its 

 basin. Though the roar of its rushing, falling waters is 

 very loud when you are standing on the brink of the 

 precipice, it cannot be heard for any gr;eat distance. 



