278 RUNNING THE EAPIDS. 



short canals which have been constructed for the purpose, 

 near the banks of the river. But the most formidable 

 of the river rapids were yet to come ; and It was to 

 obtain daylight for the passage of these that we pulled 

 up at the foot of Lake St Francis. 



Sept. 23. — At four In the morning we were again 

 under weigh, and most of the passengers on deck, to 

 witness the running of the three formidable rapids, 

 which occur within the next sixteen miles. The descent 

 was very Interesting. The rapid current, the often narrow 

 channel, and the care In steering, all told of difficulty in 

 the passages ; and when one looked at the large ship, 

 dodging, as It were, among the shallows and headlands, 

 it appeared really wonderful that accidents should so 

 rarely happen. At the foot of the cascades we entered 

 Lake St Louis, where the Ontario from the north falls 

 into the St Lawrence ; and at seven we reached Lachine, 

 in the Island of Montreal. Here most of the passengers 

 landed, and proceeded by railway nine miles to the city. 

 The really dangerous rapids, however, were still below 

 us, and as the boat was about to pass them, I and a few 

 others remained on board, with the captain's permission, 

 till the boat arrived at Montreal. 



This was certainly the most striking part of the 

 voyage ] and It Is one which a stranger visiting Mon- 

 treal ought not to allow himself to be prevented from 

 performing. Of the rapids between Lachine and Mon- 

 treal the most formidable and dangerous, Is that of the 

 Sault St Louis. The descent of this rapid, in so large 

 a vessel, created In my mind a feeling of surprise. In 

 descending the Toblque, in my bark-canoe, with a single 

 Indian polling and fending off. In quick and narrow and 

 rocky rapids, I could not help admiring the nice tact, the 

 instinctive perception as It were, with which a gentle 

 touch of the pole on the threatening rock, at the proper 

 moment, kept all safe. Here, on the St Lawrence, the 



