NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. Ill 



the heat, which stood at 82°, in the shade, at noon. We made 

 but ^ye pauses the first da}^ ; aud were three days on the portage. 

 It rained the second day, which added much to the difficulty of 

 our progress. "We now found ourselves, at every step, advancing 

 into a wild and rugged region. Everything around us wore the 

 aspect of remoteness. Dark forests, swampy grounds, rocky pre- 

 cipices, and the distant roaring of the river, as it leapt from rock 

 to rock, would have sufficiently impressed the mind with the 

 presence of the wilderness, without heavy rains, miry paths, and 

 the train of wild and picturesque Indians, who constituted a part 

 of our carriers. 



The rocks, at the foot of the portage, consisted of horizontal 

 red sandstone. On reaching the head of it, we found argillite in 

 a vertical position, I found the latter, in some places, pervaded 

 by thin veins of quartz, and in one instance by grauwackke. At 

 one spot there was a small vein of coarse graphite in the argillite. 

 Large blocks of black crystallized hornblende rock lie along the 

 shores, where we again reached the river, and are often seen on 

 its bed, amid the swift-running water, but I did not observe this 

 rock in place. Among the loose stones at the foot of the portage, 

 I picked up a specimen of micaceous oxide of iron. Such are 

 the gleams of its geology and mineralogy. The growth of the 

 forest is pines, hemlock, spruce, birch, oak, and maple. In favor- 

 able situations, I observed the common red raspberry, ripe. 



On embarking above the portage, the expedition occupied seven 

 canoes, of a size most suitable for this species of navigation. Our 

 Indian auxiliaries from Fond du Lac were here rewarded, and 

 dismissed. On ascending six miles, we reached the Portage aux 

 Coteaux, so called from the carrying path lying over a surface 

 of vertical argillite. This rock, standing up in the bed, or on 

 the banks of the stream, with a scanty overhanging foliage of 

 cedar, gives a peculiarly wild and abrupt aspect to the scene ; 

 which is by no means lessened by the loud roaring of the waters. 

 There is a fall and rapid at this portage, where the river, it may 

 be estimated, sinks its level about fourteen feet. 



We encamped at the head of this portage, where the water 

 again permits the canoes to be put Ln. Thus far, we had found 

 this stream a broad, flowing torrent, but owing to its rapids and 

 rocks, anything but favorable to its navigation b}^ boats, or canoes 



