352 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



Indians, (the same that I noticed in my journal, on the passage 

 down,) and we are this evening surrounded by some scores of 

 them. 



6th. — We made the portage of the shoots this morning by 

 carrying our boat and baggage across the land, and in half an 

 hour, arrived at one of the upper dalles. Here Mr. M'Leod 

 and myself debarked, and the men ran the dall. We walked on 

 ahead to the most dangerous part, and stood upon the rocks 

 about a hundred feet above to observe them. It really seemed 

 exceedingly dangerous to see the boat dashing ahead like light- 

 ning through the foaming and roaring waters, sometimes raised 

 high above the enormous swells, and dashed down again as if 

 she were seeking the bottom with her bows, and at others whirled 

 around and nearly sucked under by the whirlpools constantly 

 forming around her. But she stemmed every thing gallantly, 

 under the direction of our experienced guides, and we soon em- 

 barked again, and proceeded to the lower dalles. Here it is ut- 

 terly impossible, in the present state of the water, to pass, so that 

 the boat and baggage had to be carried across the whole portage. 

 This occupied the remainder of the day, and we encamped in the 

 evening at a short distance from the lower villages. The Indians 

 told us with sorrowful faces of the recent death of their 

 principal chief, Tilki. Well, thought I, the white man has lost 

 a friend, and long Avill it be before we see his like again ! The 

 poor fellow was unwell when I last saw him, with a complaint of 

 his breast, which I suspected to be pulmonary. I gave him a 

 few simple medicines, and told him I should soon see him again. 

 Well do I remember the look of despondency with which he 

 bade me farewell, and begged me to return soon and give him 

 more medicine. About two weeks since he ruptured a blood ves- 

 sel, and died in a short time. 



We see great numbers of seals as we pass along. Immediately 



