256 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



this morning, an assortment of iron mate- 

 rials, beads, looking glasses, and other ar- 

 ticles were put up in a conspicuous situation 

 for the Esquimaux, and the English Union 

 was planted on the loftiest sand-hill, where 

 it might be seen by any ships passing in the 

 offing. Here also was deposited, in a tin 

 box, a letter containing an outline of our 

 proceedings, the latitude and longitude of 

 the principal places, and the course we in- 

 tended to pursue towards Slave Lake. 



Embarking at eight A.M. we proceeded 

 up the river, which is full of sandy shoals, 

 but sufficiently deep for canoes in the chan- 

 nels. It is from one hundred to two hun- 

 dred yards wide, and is bounded by high 

 and steep banks of clay. We encamped at 

 a cascade of eighteen or twenty feet high, 

 which is produced by a ridge of rock 

 crossing the river, and the nets were set. 

 A mile below this cascade Hood's River is 

 joined by a stream half its own size, which 

 I have called James' Branch. Bear and 

 deer tracks had been numerous on the 

 banks of the river when we were here 



