THE FORKS OF THE MAcMILLAN RIVER 87 



much farther up the Pelly, giving as a reason "low 

 water." 



August 26. Fog prevented the boat from starting 

 until 6.30 the next morning and we reached the lower 

 end of Granite Canon at nine. This canon, four miles 

 long, is bordered with steep, rocky scarped banks, and 

 cliffs from two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet in 

 height. The river through the canon is fairly wide and 

 deep, though at low water there are several shallow 

 rapids and numerous isolated rocks which it needs skil- 

 ful steering to avoid. The captain uncertainly attempted 

 to manage the boat, and just before entering the canon 

 put her into the sand-bank of a little island in midstream. 

 Then backing her, while nobody knew what he was try- 

 ing to do, he took her to the bank and tied her up, say- 

 ing that if he attempted to go through he would lose her. 

 It was evident that a stiff rapid just ahead had frightened 

 him. 



Fortunately, our man Coghlan was an experienced 

 river navigator, and, after going along the bank and look- 

 ing at the water, he told us that it would not be difficult 

 or dangerous to "rope" up through a part of the rapid 

 to a point where the boat could steam against it. After 

 two hours of discussion and persuasion, the captain was 

 induced to make the attempt. All available ropes were 

 then spliced to a length of over three hundred feet; we 

 all gave a hand, pulled the line along the shore, and 

 fastened it to a tree on the bank. After being pushed 

 from shore, the boat was given a course, and, assisted 

 by the steam-propelled revolutions of the winch, started 



