294 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



into which we divided the entire distance between 

 Shebandowan Lake and Fort Garry. 



The second section begins at Fort Francis, where 

 the leading detachment arrived, as previously stated, 

 on the 4th August, starting again that same after- 

 noon. A garrison of one company of militia was 

 left for the protection of the hospital, bakery, and 

 depot of stores established there, and to ensure our 

 communications being kept open through the Chip- 

 pewah territories. Although these Indians had been 

 hitherto very friendly, there was no saying when 

 they might give us trouble, particularly if they saw 

 large quantities of that much-coveted article, flour, 

 stored in their very midst without a sufficient guard 

 to protect it. Indians have great appetites, and are 

 always hungry and hungry men are ever more or 

 less dangerous. Our voyage down Rainy River was 

 most enjoyable. As we pushed off from shore below 

 the falls at Fort Francis, we were twisted round for 

 some time in every direction by the numerous whirl- 

 pools formed by the falling of such a great body of 

 water into a circular basin, where it acquired a rotary 

 motion. At one moment a boat was going at the 

 rate of about nine miles an hour, and the next it 

 was perfectly stationary, having stopped without any 

 shock, but as suddenly as if it had struck a rock. 

 In some instances minutes elapsed ere the utmost 

 exertion at the oar, the whole crew pulling their 

 best, could impart the least motion to the boats. 



