306 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



one of every class that we met, that the British 

 soldier was a fine brave fellow, who, as a fighting 

 man, was superior to two of any other nation, but 

 utterly useless for any other purpose. They thought 

 it was impossible that he could carry loads, perform 

 heavy bodily labour, or endure great physical fatigue. 

 It need scarcely be added that we now bear a very 

 different reputation in those parts ; and it is not 

 saying too much to assert, that we left behind us a 

 character for every manly virtue. Our men soon 

 acquired considerable skill in managing their boats, 

 in portaging, &c., &c. ; and the natural cheery energy 

 of the British character shone out brilliantly when 

 displayed side by side with the apathy and listlessness 

 of the half-breed voyageur. 



We were informed that it would take us about 

 twenty days to get to Fort Alexander, at the mouth 

 of the Winnipeg River. This was very discouraging, 

 because we had been previously told by our leader 

 that we should reach Fort Garry about the 23d of 

 August, which would be impossible if it were to take 

 us so long in descending the river. 



The journey down the Winnipeg River can never 

 be forgotten if once made. The difference of level 

 between the Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg 

 is 340 feet the distance between them by river 

 being about 160 miles. The descent down that 

 number of feet is distributed throughout thirty falls 

 and rapids, presenting every variety of river scenery 



