98 THKOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



by a limestone shelf extending to the bank, flanked on the 

 left, and at an acute angle, by a deeply-indented reef of rock. 

 Looking up the river, the view to the west seems inclosed by 

 a long line of trees, which, in the distance, appear to stand in 

 the water. Thence the vast stream sweeps boldly into the 

 south, and with a rush discharges down the rapids, and 

 straight over the line of precipice, in a vast tumultuous grey- 

 ish-drab torrent which speedily emerges into comparatively 

 still water below. The rock here is an exceedingly hard, 

 mottled limestone, resembling the stone at St. Andrew's 

 Kapids on Red Kiver. Where exposed it is pitted or bitten 

 into by the endless action of wind and water, ^nd lies in 

 thick layers, forming an irregular dyke all along the shore, 

 over the surface of which passes the portage, some forty yards 

 in length. Though short, it is a nasty one, running along a 

 shelf of rock into which great gaps have been gored by the 

 torrent. Large quantities of driftwood were stuck in the 

 rapids above, and a big pile of it had lodged at the south 

 angle of the cataract, over which our boats had to be drawn, 

 and dropped down, with great care and difficulty. A rounded, 

 tall island lies, or rather stands, below the falls, towards the 

 north shore, whose sheer escarpments and densely wooded top 

 are very curious and striking. Two sister islands and another 

 above the falls, all four being about a mile apart, stand in 

 line with each other, as if they had once formed parts of an 

 ancient marge, and, below the falls, the torrent has wrought 

 out a sort of bay from the rock, the bank, which is high here, 

 giving that night upon its grassy slope, overhung with dense 

 pine woods, a picturesque camp to our boatmen. The vast 

 river, the rapids and the falls form a majestic picture, not 

 only of material grandeur, but of power to be utilized some • 

 day in the service of man. Though formidable, they will yet 

 be surmounted by modern locks ; and should Smith's Kapids, 

 on the Great Slave Kiver, be overcome by canalling, there 

 would then be developed one of the longest lines of inland 

 navigation on the continent. 



