The English Period 



miles. Our men then took to their oars and with incredible 1785 

 labor arrived at the other side and landed in Chippeway Creek. Crevecouer 



This passage is extremely awful, for many accidents 

 have happened from the breaking of an oar and the current 

 running at the rate of 6 miles an hour, it requires great exertion 

 to prevent being hurried along with it; and this is the reason 

 they ascend the river so high, for Chippewa Creek is even lower 

 down than Fort Slausser. The terror is increased by a full 

 view of the rapids I have described, and the spray and cloud 

 within two or three miles. An accident such as I have men- 

 tioned would expose persons to be driven by the current into 

 the rapids, where you must inevitably perish. . . . 



The view of this cataract from the Eastern Shore seems only 

 preparative for that on the west side, where we now stood. I 

 shall begin with observing, that you command here every drop 

 of water, since there is not a curve or undented line but may be 

 seen. We were within 30 or 40 yards of the great fall, the 

 waters of which force themselves over these great rocks, and 

 occasion two small falls, the waters of which washed our feet. 



The rock we were upon, pends over at least 20 or 30 feet, 

 and to look down makes you giddy, particularly from the agita- 

 tion of your feelings. 



We followed him [the conductor] upon the bank or ledge of 

 rocks for a short mile. . . . We arrived at a break in the rock 

 . . . which serves as the only admittance or path to descend' 

 to the river. This we pursued for some distance down a very 

 steep bank, and were obliged to hold by the roots of trees and 

 shrubs that surrounded us. We came to a large tree which stands 

 alone . . . and upon the back of which were carved a 

 number of names of different persons who had been here. Being 

 fatigued we rested here some little time, and amused ourselves by 

 adding ours to the number. We now continued our route until 

 we came to a large rock, the sides of which are perpendicular 



71 



