248 Thirty Years 
tribute of my respect for that distinguished philan- 
thropist and Christian. Messrs. Back and Hood took 
beautiful sketches of this majestic scene. 
The river being surveyed from the summit of a hill, 
above these falls, appeared so rapid and shallow, that 
it seemed useless to attempt proceeding any farther in 
the large canoes. I therefore determined on con- 
structing out of their materials two smaller ones of 
sufficient size to contain three persons, for the purpose 
of crossing any river that might obstruct our progress. 
This operation was accordingly commenced, and by 
the 31st both the canoes being finished, we prepared 
for our departure on the following day. 
The leather which had been preserved for making 
shoes was equally divided among the men, two pair of 
flannel socks were given to each person, and such ar- 
ticles of warm clothing as remained, were issued to - 
those who most required them. They were also fur- 
nished with one of the officers’ tents. -This being 
done, I communicated to the men my intention of 
proceeding in as direct a course as possible to the part 
of Point Lake, opposite to our spring encampment, 
which was only distant one hundred and forty-nine 
miles in a straight line. They received the communi- 
cation cheerfully, considered the journey to be short, 
and left me, in high spirits, to arrange their own 
packages. The stores, books, &c., which were not 
