26 Thirtg Years. 



Having launched the boats over the rock, we com- 

 menced the descent of the Echemamis. This small 

 stream has its course through a morass, and in dry- 

 seasons its channel contains, instead of water, merely 

 a foot or two of thin mud. On these occasions it is 

 customary to build dams, that it may be rendered 

 navigable by the accumulation of its waters. As the 

 beavers perform this operation very effectually, en- 

 deavors have been made to encourage them to breed 

 in this place, but it has not hitherto been possible to 

 restrain the Indians from killing that useful animal 

 whenever they discover its retreats. On the present 

 occasion there was no want of water, the principal 

 impediment we experienced being from the narrowness 

 of the channel, which permitted the willows of each 

 bank to meet over our heads, and obstruct the men at 

 the oars. After proceeding down the stream for some 

 time, we came to a recently con tructed beaver-dam 

 through which an opening was made sufficient to 

 admit the fyoat to pass. We were assured that the 

 i would be closed by the industrious creature in a 

 night. We encamped about eight miles from 

 the Bource of the river, having come during the day 

 aev nteen miles and a half. 



On the 4th we embarked amidst, a heavy rain, and 



pursued our route down the Echemamis. In many 



:h" morass, by which the river is nourished, and 



