HAMILTON SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 31 



It was wonderful how the steamer could climb the rapids. Oc- 

 casionally on coming to a steep place she would be brought to a 

 standstill by the current. On these occasions she drew back, took 

 a rest, as it were, and rushed at the rapid again, then crept slowly 

 up, up, till the level water was again reached. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, we came to a place where she really could not climb. Then' 

 she would draw out to shore — she could go ashore anywhere— and 

 the crew would climb out on the bank carrying one end of a cable. 

 This they would carry some distance up the river and make it fast 

 to a Cottonwood tree. The other end of the cable was wound 

 around a drum on the boat. The power was then turned into this 

 drum instead of the paddle-wheel and the boat would literally hau^ 

 herself up. This is how we got up the steepest rapids. It took 

 me three days to get up to Hazelton. 



I wanted to go back by the same steamer, but she left too soon 

 and I missed her. What could I do ? It was not a question of a 

 train being two or three hours late ; it was a question of days, for 

 it was late in the season and there was only one boat plying. I 

 got a missionary — he was a halfbreed and a very fine fellow indeed 

 —to procure a canoe for me. He came along late the next morn- 

 ing with three Indians, peculiar looking fellows. He introduced 

 me to Solomon the captain. I found that Solomon could talk only 

 Indian and Chinook — that .sort of universal language in that part of 

 the country, which consists of only about 400 words and is known 

 to nearly all the inhabitants. We therefore did not get along very 

 well from a conversational standpoint. However, I concluded 

 that the missionary had arranged everything. 



We then went down to see the canoe. I wondered what kind 

 of one it would be to stand running those rapids. I thought of 

 what chance an ordinary Indian bark canoe would have in them 

 and felt rather anxious. But when I saw the boat I felt reassured. 

 It was one of those beautiful cedars cut into a canoe with beautiful 

 lines, like the lines of a yacht, and was at least forty feet long. 



We started otit, and after going a short way I was struck by 

 the peculiar d.ctioti,s of the oarshleU. They paddled vety slowly, 

 and I wai^ afraid at times tlmt tliey v/oiHd ntop altogethtr, I bS" 



