170 



KIVER LIFE. 



The camping utensils for river-driving, with provisions, are 

 moved along day by day, according to the progress made by the 

 drive, so that for the most part each night presents a new loca- 

 tion, with the usual preparations. The boats appropriated for 

 the removal of the whole company, apparatus, and provisions, 

 when loaded, are called " ivanguns," an Indian word signifying 

 bait, and, when thus appropriated, means bait or provision boats. 



Among the dangers to be incurred, where both life and prop- 

 erty are hazarded, is that of "running the wangun" — a phrase 

 perfectly understood on the river, but which the uninitiated will 

 better understand when I say that it means the act of taking 

 these loaded bateaux down river from station to station, particu- 

 larly down quick water. This is a business generally committed 

 to experienced watermen, especially when a dangerous place is 

 to be passed, as to " swamp the wangun" is often attended with 

 not only the loss of provisions and utensils, but also life. From 

 this fact, the circumstance is always regarded with interest by 

 all hands, who watch the navigators in their perilous passage 

 with no ordinary or unnecessary solicitude. 



On one occasion two active young men put off from the shore 

 with the " wangun," to make the passage of some quick water 

 just at the head of a fearful fall, where, as was customary, the 

 whole party were to be carried by. In passing a rock, where the 

 water formed a large whirlpool, the boat, on striking it, instant- 

 ly capsized. One of the men, being an expert swimmer, told his 

 comrade to take hold of the back of his vest, and he could swim 

 with him to the shore ; but the current carried them so swiftly 

 toward the falls that it became necessary for the swimmer to dis- 

 engage himself from his companion, who clung to him with a 

 death-grasp. His efforts to effect a separation were unsuccess- 

 ful, and every moment they were carried nearer to the fatal falls. 

 Suddenly sinking in the water, the swimmer contrived to turn 

 round and face his drowning friend. Drawing up his legs, and 



