HILL RIVER. 



15 



North-American Indian of these regions would 

 part with his children, to be educated in white 

 man's knowledge and religion. The above 

 circumstance therefore afforded us no small 

 encouragement, in embarking for the colony. 

 We overtook the boats going thither on the 

 7th of September, slowly proceeding through 

 a most difficult and laborious navigation. The 

 men were harnessed to a line, as they walked 

 along the steep declivity of a high bank, 

 dragging them against a strong current. In 

 many places, as we proceeded, the water was 

 very shoal, and opposed us with so much force 

 in the rapids, that the men were frequently 

 obliged to get out, and lift the boats over the 

 stones ; at other times to unload, and launch 

 them over the rocks, and carry the goods upon 

 their backs, or rather suspended in slings from 

 their heads, a considerable distance, over some 

 of the portages. The weather was frequently 

 very cold, with snow and rain ; and our 

 progress was so slow and mortifying, particu- 

 larly up Hill River, that the boats' crews were 

 heard to execrate the man who first found out 

 such a way into the interior. 



The blasphemy of the men, in the difficulties 

 they had to encounter, was truly painful to me. 

 I had hoped better things of the Scotch, from 



