North-West Continent of America. 



121 



the extent of the upper surface ; presenting, as it were, so 

 many large tables, each of which was supported by a pe- 

 destal of a more circumscribed projection. They are very 

 elevated for such a situation, and afford an asylum for 

 geese, which were at this time breeding on them. By 

 crossing from one to the other of these islands, we came 

 at length to the main traverse, on which we ventured, and 

 were successful in our passage. Mr. Mackay, and the 

 Indians, who observed our manoeuvres from the top of a 

 rock, were in continual alarm for our safety, with which 

 their own, indeed, may be said to have been nearly con- 

 nected : however, the dangers that we encountered, were 

 very much augmented by the heavy loading of the canoe. 



When we had effected our passage, the current on the 

 West side was almost equally violent with that from 

 whence we had just escaped, but the craggy bank being 

 somewhat lower, we were enabled, with a line of sixty 

 fathoms, to tow the canoe, till we came to the foot of the 

 most rapid cascade we had hitherto seen. Here we un- 

 loaded, and carried every thing over a rocky point of an 

 hundred and twenty paces. When the canoe was reloaded, 

 I, with those of my people who were not immediately 

 employed, ascended the bank, which was there, and, in- 

 deed, as far as we could see it, composed of clay, stone, 

 and a yellow gravel. My present situation was so ele- 

 vated, that the men, who were coming up a strong point 

 could not hear me, though I called to them with the ut- 

 most strength of my voice, to lighten the canoe of part 

 of its lading. And here I could not but reflect with infi- 

 nite anxiety, on the hazard of my enterprize : one false 

 step of those who were attached to the line, or the breaking 

 of the line itself, would have at once consigned the canoe, 

 and every thing it contained, to instant destruction ; 

 it, however, ascended the rapid in perfect security, but 

 new dangers immediately presented themselves, for stones, 

 both small and great, were continually rolling from the 

 bank, so as to render the situation of those who were 

 dragging the canoe beneath it extremelyj'periious ; besides, 

 they were at every step in danger, from the steepness of 

 the ground, of falling into the water ; nor was my solici- 

 tude diminished by my being necessarily removed at times 

 from the sight of them. 



In our passage through the woods, we came to an in- 

 closure, which had been formed by the natives for the 



