THE PERIBONCA AND TSCHOTAGAMA 189 



of a mile along a narrow ledge of rock by the precip- 

 itous west bank of the stream. The canoes were then 

 paddled through four miles of comparatively dead wa- 

 terso called, at least, by the guides though in parts 

 it was marked by a very swift current. 



At some twenty-seven miles from the mouth of the 

 river the fifth falls, or Chute a Whelly, are reached, 

 and here there is a portage fully a mile in length 

 through a respectable forest, with a luxuriant under- 

 growth of ferns, raspberries, and blueberries. About 

 another mile up stream from the head of the portage 

 is the mouth of the river Aleck, and, near by, the sixth 

 falls, or Chute du Bonhomme. There are very good 

 trout in the river Aleck, by way of which stream the 

 Little Peribonca may be reached without much por- 

 taging. In the Aleck the guides often take valuable 

 fresh- water pearls, which are found inside the shells of 

 the river mussels. 



La Chute du Bonhomme is a very wide and beauti- 

 ful waterfall, divided into two distinct cataracts by a 

 large island in the centre. Some short distance above 

 it the men forced the canoes up some pretty strong 

 rapids, and even through cascades between the rocks 

 in some places nearly a foot or so in perpendicular 

 height; but it was certainly very hard work. The 

 river is remarkably winding now for a few miles, and 

 upon the sandy bank, which we hugged pretty closely 

 in ascending, several bear and beaver tracks were 

 seen. The marks left by the latter showed plainly 

 the furrow worn by his trailing tail. 



At thirty -three miles from Lake St. John is the 

 Portage de File, where between two more falls the 



