336 The Unknown River. 



Roman have dwelt upon its shores, and reddened it in 

 sanguinary conflict, its perfect exploration was reserved 

 for the audacity of an Englishman ? Let me rather, 

 more modestly, rejoice in sharing that capacity for tak- 

 ing pleasure in the beauty of natural scenery which 

 belongs to so many in our own time. It is this, much 

 more than any particular satisfaction in the somewhat 

 monotonous business of paddling, which constitutes the 

 principal charm of all canoe voyages ; and it is this, 

 more peculiarly and especially, which made privations 

 light to me, and labor pleasant, and time swift, dur- 

 ing the weeks I spent in, 'An Etcher's Voyage of 

 Discovery.' 



