ACEOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



instruments, blankets, provisions and clothing — ^was soaked, 

 and it was therefore necessary to unload and turn everything 

 out. My brother, seeing that something had happened, went 

 ashore also, and with his men returned to assist us. The 

 weather was fine, and our goods soon became sufficiently dry 

 to allow us to re-embark. 



An examination having been made of the rapid-below, a 

 short run was made down and then across to the opposite side, 

 where we landed, and, because of the extreme shallovyness of 

 the channel and the many rocks that showed ominously above 

 the surface, the canoes were lowered for the remaining half 

 mile with the lines. The whole length of this rapid is per- 

 haps a, mile and a half, and it is sometimes designated as two, 

 the Drowned and Middle rapids. Following these in quick 

 succession, at intervals of from two to ten miles, we passed 

 through the Long Rapids, which occasioned no difficulty; 

 then the Crooked Rapids, well named from the fact that they 

 occur at a very sharp U-shaped bend in the river, round 

 which the current sweeps with great velocity. Just below 

 this the Stony Rapid was passed, and then in turn the Little 

 and Big cascades, both of which are formed by ledges of 

 limestone rock, about three feet high, extending in more or 

 less unbroken lines completely across the river. 



At the Big Cascade a portage of a few yards had to be 

 made, and below this, smooth water was found for a distance 

 of eight or nine miles, vintil the head of the Mountain Rapid 

 was reached. Judging from the name that this would be a 

 large one, we decided to go ashore to reconnoitre. For a con- 

 siderable distance the rapid was inspected, but no unusual 

 difficulty appearing, we resolved to go ahead. About a mile 

 farther on, a bend occurred in the rapid, and so high and 

 steep were the banks that only with great difficulty could we 

 see the river beyond. As far as the bend, though the current 

 was swift, there appeared to be but few rocks near the left 

 bank, and plenty of water. We therefore decided to go 



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