24 Thirty Years 



ing the cargoes over a portage of thirteen hundred 

 yards in length, and in launching the empty boats 

 over three several ridges of rock which obstruct the 

 channel and produce as many cascades. I shall long 

 remember the rude and characteristic wildness of the 

 scenery which surrounded these falls ; rocks piled on 

 rocks hung in rude and shapeless masses over the 

 agitated torrents which swept their bases, whilst the 

 brio;ht and variegated tints of the mosses and lichens, 

 that covered the face of the cliffs, contrasting with 

 the dark green of the pines, which crowned their 

 summits, added both beauty and grandeur to the 

 general effect of the scene. Our two companions, 

 Eack and Hood, made accurate sketches of these falls. 

 At this place we observed a conspicuous lop-stick, a 

 kind of land-mark, which I have not hitherto noticed, 

 notwithstanding its great use in pointing out the 

 frequented routes. It is a pine-tree divested of its 

 lower branches, and having only a small tuft at the 

 top remaining. This operation is usually performed 

 at the instance of some individual emulous of fame. 

 I": treats his companions with rum, and they in 

 ri turn, strip 1 lie tree of its branches, and ever after 

 n:itc if by his name. 

 In the afternoon, whilst on my way to superintend 

 the operations of tin- men, a stratum of loose moss 

 gave way ander my feet, and I had the misfortune to 



