North-West Continent of America. 



21 



there came on lightning and thunder, with wind and rain, 

 which ceased in about half an hour, and left us almost 

 deluged with wet, as we did not land. There were great 

 quantities of ice along the banks of the river. 



We landed upon a small island, where there were the 

 poles of four lodges standing, which we concluded to have 

 belonged to the Knistineaux, on their war excursions, six 

 or seven years ago. This course was fifteen miles West, 

 to where the river of the Mountain falls in from the South- 

 ward. It appears to be a very large river, whose mouth 

 is half a mile broad. About six miles further a small river 

 flows in the same direction ; and our whole course was 

 twenty-four miles. We landed opposite to an island, the 

 mountains to the Southward being in sight. As our canoe 

 was deeply laden, and being also in daily expectation of 

 coming to the rapids or fall, which we had been taught to 

 consider with apprehension, we concealed two bags of 

 pemican in the opposite island, in the hope that they would 

 be of future service to us. The Indians were of a differ- 

 ent opinion, as they entertained no expectation of return- 

 ing that season, when the hidden provisions would be 

 spoiled. Near us were two Indian encampments of the 

 last year. By the manner in which these people cut their 

 wood, it appears that they have no iron tools. The cur- 

 rent was very strong during the whole of this day's voyage ; 

 and in the article of provisions two swans were all that the 

 hunters were able to procure. 



Thursday 2. The morning was very foggy ; but at half 

 past five we embarked ; it cleared up, however, at seven, 

 when we discovered that the water, from being very lim- 

 pid and clear, was become dark and muddy. This alter- 

 ation must have proceeded from the influx of some river 

 to the Southward, but where these streams first blended 

 their waters the fog had prevented us from observing. At 

 nine we perceived a very high mountain a-head, which ap- 

 peared, on our nearer approach, to be rather a cluster of 

 mountains, stretching as far as our view could reach to the 

 Southward, and whose tops were lost in the clouds. At 

 noon there was lightning, thunder, and rain, and at one, 

 we came abreast of the mountains : their summits appear- 

 ed to be barren and rocky, but their declivities were cover- 

 ed with wood : they appeared also to be sprinkled with 

 white stones, which glistened in the sun, and were called 

 by the Indians manetoe aseniah, or spirit stones. I sus- 



