/// the Arctio Itcgions. 29 



been low, bui our information did not enable ua to 

 judge whether the decrease was merely casual, or going 



on continually, or periodical. The distant f this 



island from Norway House is thirty-eight miles and a 



half. 



The westerly winds detained us all the morning of 

 the Oth, hut, at two P. M., the wind choppedround to 

 the eastward : we immediately embarked, and the 

 breeze afterwards freshening, we reached the mouth of 

 the Saskatchawan at midnight, having run thirty-two 



. Oct. 10.— The whole of this day wa 

 cupied in getting the boats from the mouth of the 



river to the foot of the -rand rapid, a distance of two 

 miles. There are several rapids in this short distance 

 during which the river varies its breadth from five 

 hundred yards to half a mile. Its channel is stony. 

 At the grand rapid, the Sa-katehawan formsasudden 

 bend, from south to east, and works its way through 

 a narrow channel, deeply worn into the limestone 



strata. The stream, rushing with impetuous I 



r a rocky and uneven bottom, presents a sheet of 

 foam, and set nis to bear with impatience the straiten- 

 ed confinemenl of its lofty banks. A flock of pelicans, 

 and two or three brown fishing eagles, were Ashing in 

 its agitated water-. Beemingly with great sue 

 There is a good Bturgeon fishery at the foot of the 



