THE HAMILTON RIVER AND THE GRAND FALLS 149 



Above the Minipi the valley soon widens, and varies 

 from one to two miles across the bottom. The rocky walls 

 rise from seven hundred feet to nine hundred feet above the 

 water, while the glacial drift in the valley has been cut 

 by the river into terraces, which are seen flanking the walls 

 at heights ranging from twenty feet to two hundred and 

 fifty feet. The navigation is good for the next forty miles, 

 the even current of the river being broken only by a few 

 short rapids not difficult to ascend. A number of very 

 beautiful stretches are seen along this portion, where the 

 channel is divided by islands covered with thick green 

 forest, giving* contrast with the bare rocky walls down 

 which a number of small tributaries tumble in feathery 

 cascades. The valley again contracts, and for eighteen 

 miles, to its outlet from Winokapau Lake, the current is 

 swift, and the river broken by a number of rapids, making 

 the ascent difficult, but probably entailing portages only at 

 a few short pitches. 



The entrance to the lake is impressive ; the walls of the 

 valley are less than a quarter of a mile apart, and tower 

 in sheer cliffs for a thousand feet above the stream. The 

 change from the foaming rapids of the outlet to the quiet 

 surface of the lake is especially pleasing to the somewhat 

 wearied traveller. 



Winokapau Lake is thirty miles long and varies from one 

 mile to two miles and a half in width; its waters fill the 

 valley from wall to wall. The lake is remarkably deep, 

 isolated soundings giving over four hundred feet; only 

 a few soundings were made during our passage, as the ice 

 was then four feet nine inches thick, and two hours of hard 

 work were required to put a hole through it. The upper 



