MEETING WITH NATIVES 



discovered. On examination we found it could be run for a 

 considerable distance, and that for the remaining distance 

 only a short portage would have to be made. 



The contents of the canoes being all safely landed below 

 the rapids, they themselves were run down, by the Iroquois 

 through the foaming waters. Had it not been for our good 

 steersman Pierre many and many a rapid through which our 

 little crafts were guided in safety would have caused us much 

 laborious portaging. If a rapid could be run at all in safety, 

 Pierre had the skill and nerve to do it. During the scores of 

 times that he piloted our little fleet through •foaming waters, 

 I believe I am correct in saying that his canoe never once 

 touched a rock; but that is more than can be said of those 

 who followed him. 



After reloading the canoes we sped dovra. with the current 

 at a rate of about eight miles an hour, with the wind beating 

 the cold rain and the spray from the crest of the waves in our 

 faces, our only consolation being that we were making miles 

 on the journey. The shores continued to be bare, steep walls 

 of rock ; not a shrub was anywhere to be seen. About twelve 

 miles below Schultz Lake, deciding to camp, tents were 

 pitched, and within them our soaked and shivering party 

 sought comfort. Little, however, was to be found, for the 

 wind, which continued to increase in violence, drove the rain 

 through our shelters, saturating blankets and making us 

 generally miserable. The morning brought no improvement, 

 for the storm still continued. 



It was impossible to make a fire, supposing moss or other 

 fuel could have been found, for the latter would have been 

 saturated with water. A little alcohol still remaining, tea 

 was boiled with it, and dried venison completed our menu. 

 As those who have used it well know, this description of meat 

 is not the most palatable. It is good, strong, portable food, 

 but may be better compared to sole leather than any article 



' of diet. 



115 



