NARRATN EL <S iV.i 



CHAPTER VII. 



Continuation of the descent. — Velocity of the rapids. — One of thr ca- 

 noes is xipset, and its content* carried over the falls. — Notice* of the 

 fetation and zoology. — Fork-tailed hank.— A novel species of liz- 

 ard. — The Yellow Iff ad's failure in hunting. — Instinct of the saw- 

 led duck in preserving its young. — The river continues to tjhibit 

 a succession of rapids and plateaux, during its passage through the 

 alpine region. — Purity and frequency of springs on its banks.^-In- 

 flux of the Cano and Piniddiwin rivers. — Notice of an inroad and 

 murder committed by the Sioux in former years. — A night descent. — 

 Some of its incidents. — Reach the junction of the east and icest 

 forks. — Return to Cass Lake. — Observance of the Sabbath. — Mis- 

 sionary field of lahor in the Korthwest. — Superstitions and idolatry 

 of the Indians. — Their name for the Deity. — Its probable derivation. 



We were in motion again a little before five o'clock, in the 

 morning, (14th.) The rapids continued. The branches of large 

 trees often hung so near to the water, that if we were not in 

 peril of being entangled, like the Jewish rebel king, we were in 

 u more continual danger of having every moveable article swept 

 from the canoes. An accident occured to one of the canoes, 

 about six o'clock in the morning, which might have had a fatal 

 termination. My men had paused a few moments at the head 

 of a formidable rapid, to determine the best place of going 

 down it. Lieut Allen, who, with his canoe, was behind at the 

 moment, soon came up. His bowsman caught hold of my ca- 

 noe to check his own velocity. It produced that effect, but the 

 stern of >e swung across the stream, so that the bU 



n caught bold of a branch to pn v. at its being carried broad- 

 over the rapid. Being iiiu> rendered tense between l>;mk 



I bank, the velocity of the water poured over the gunnel* and 

 it was instantly reversed, with all its contents. This whole oc- 



