24 Thirty Years 
ing the cargoes over a portage of thirteen hundred ° 
yards in length, and in launching the empty boats 
over three several ridges of rock which obstruct the 
channel and produce as many cascades. I shall long 
remember the rude and characteristic wildness of the 
scenery which surrounded these falls ; rocks piled on 
rocks hung in rude and ‘Shapeless masses over the 
agitated torrents which swept their bases, whilst the 
bright and variegated tints of the mosses and lichens, 
that covered the face of the cliffs, contrasting with 
the dark green of the pines, which crowned their 
summits, added both beauty and grandeur to the 
general effect of the scene. Our two companions, 
Back and Hood, made accurate sketches of these falls. 
At this place we observed a conspicuous lop-stick, a 
kind of land-mark, which I have not hitherto noticed, 
notwithstanding its great use in pointing out the 
frequented routes. It is a pine-tree divested of its 
lower branches, and having only a small tuft at the 
top remaining. This operation is usually performed 
at the instance of some individual emulous of fame. 
He treats his companions with rum, and they in 
return, strip the tree of its branches, and ever after 
designate it by his name. 
In the afternoon, whilst on my way to superintend 
the operations of the men, a stratum of loose moss 
gave way under my feet, and I had the misfortune to 
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