110 Journal of a Voyage through the 



CHAPTER III. 



Proceed on the voyage of discovery. Beautiful scenery. 

 The canoe too heavily laden. The country in a state of 

 combustion. Meet -with a hunting party. State of the 

 river, Meet xvith Indians. See the tracks of bears, 



and one of their dens. Sentiment of an Indian. Junc- 

 tion of the Bear River. • Appearance of the country. 

 State of the river. Observe a fall of timber. Abundance 

 of animals. See some bears. Come in sight of the rocky 

 mountains. The canoe receives an injury and is repaired. 

 Navigation dangerous. Rapids and falls. Succession of 

 difficulties and dangers. 



May, 1793. \ \XT 



Thursday 9. 3 vv E began our voyage with a course South 

 by West against a strong current one mile and three quar- 

 ters, South-West by South one mile, and landed before 

 eight on an island for the night. 



Friday 10. The weather was clear and pleasant, though 

 there was a keenness in the air; and at a quarter past three 

 in the morning we continued our voyage, steering South- 

 West three quarters of a mile, South- West by South one 

 mile and a quarter, South three quarters of a mile South* 

 West by South one quarter of a mile, South -West by 

 West one mile, South- West by South three miles, South 

 by West three quarters of a mile, and South- West one 

 mile. The canoe being strained from its having been very 

 heavily laden, became so leaky, that we were obliged to 

 land, unload, and gum it. As this circumstance took 

 place about twelve, I had an opportunity of taking an alti- 

 tude, which made our latitude 55. 58. 48. 



When the canoe was repaired we continued our course, 

 steering South- West by West one mile and an half, when 

 I had the misfortune to drop my pocket-compass into the 

 water; West half a mile, West-South-West four miles 

 and an half. Here the banks are steep and hilly, and in 

 some parts undermined by the river. Where the earth 

 has given way, the face of the cliffs discovers numerous 

 strata, consisting of reddish earth and small stones, bitu- 

 men, and a greyish earth, below which, near the water- 

 edge, is a red stone. Water issues from most of the banks, 



