A NIGHT HUNT UP THE CUNGAMUNCK. 495 



the outlet. There we found every thing needful already in 

 the boat. The additions to its ordinary equipment were very 

 few and simple. A stout pine stick had been let into an 

 auger hole through a board which had been placed across 

 the bow. This stood some four feet high ; and upon the top 

 of it was placed a triangular shaped box, open at the wide 

 end, and which was intended to hold the lighted candles. 

 Then there was a low seat, which was intended for the 

 marksman, who sat forward, just behind the staff and box- 

 lantern ; then we had a paddle, which was to be used when 

 we reached the scene of operations, where the ordinary oars 

 were to be laid aside. 



Now we embarked, and set off down the narrow but deep 

 outlet. It here takes the name of Sockendog river, and its 

 'course towards the southeast is through a wide valley, between 

 two chains of hills. The water spreads over the surface of 

 this valley in reality, though it is so overgrown by the 

 "mash" of tall grass, flags and water-lilies, that the real 

 channel seems like a dark shining ribbon laid along a rippled 

 and rustling waste of green. Soon we reached Cungamunck 

 Bay, which spreads a quarter of a mile in width, with the 

 hills rising abruptly on the east. It is a pretty sheet of 

 water, covered with the white and yellow flowers of the lily. 

 Sockendog plunges on through a gorge by the foot of the 

 hills, while we turn towards the north-west, pushing through 

 the grass and lilies for the thread-like channel of the Cunga- 

 munck river, which comes winding down from out a forest 

 of wild hills. 



Now the valley narrows rapidly, and the hills stand 

 marshalled on either hand in close dark lines. The sun 

 is yet over an hour high, and its yellow glitter is broken 

 upon our faces through the firs and pines which bristle on 

 the ridges. We are gliding with a " stilly creeping" glide, 

 beneath their long shadows and up the tortuous vistas of this 

 curious stream, which comes creeping slowly down through 



