116 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



highest latitude attained on our journey, namely 64 48' 

 north. This as a high latitude does not, of course, 

 amount to anything, but the attainment of a high 

 latitude was not an object of our expedition, though 

 scores of times the question has been asked of ine, 

 " How far north did you get ? " 



At this entrance to the river a large area of highly 

 glaciated granitic rocks was observed, and the channel 

 was well formed and deep. Both banks were high and 

 rocky, and the current swift. Notwithstanding the 

 weather our canoes were kept in the stream, though it 

 was with difficulty I was able to carry on the survey 

 and keep my notes. 



About seven miles down stream a very rocky rapid 

 was discovered. On examination we found it could be 

 run for a considerable distance, and that for the remain- 

 ing distance only a short portage would have to be 

 made. 



The contents of the canoes being all safely landed 

 below the rapids, they themselves were run down by the 

 Iroquois through the foaming waters. Had it not been 

 for our good steersman Pierre many and many a rapid 

 through which our little crafts were guided in safety 

 would have caused us much laborious portaging. If a 

 rapid could be run at all in safety, Pierre had the skill 

 and nerve to do it. During the scores of times that he 

 piloted our little fleet through foaming waters, I believe 

 I am correct in saying that his canoe never once touched 

 a rock ; but that is more than can be said of those who 

 followed him. 



After reloading the canoes we sped down with the 

 current at a rate of about eight miles an hour, with 



