North-West Continent of America, 



127 



rocks, from whence huge fragments sometimes tumble 

 tiown, and falling from such an height, dash into small 

 stones, with sharp points, and form the beach between the 

 rocky projections. Along the face of some of these pre- 

 cipices, there appears a stratum of a bitumenous substance 

 which resembles coal ; though while some of the pieces of 

 it appeared to be excellent fuel, others resisted, for a con- 

 siderable time, the action of fire, and did not emit the least 

 flame. The whole of this day's course would have been 

 altogether impracticable, if the water had been higher, 

 which must be the case at certain seasons. We saw also 

 several encampments of the Knisteneaux along the river, 

 which must have been formed by them on their war excur- 

 sions : a decided proof of the savage, blood-thirsty dispo- 

 sition of that people ; as nothing less than such a spirit 

 could impell them to encounter the difficulties of this 

 almost inaccessible country, whose natives are equally 

 unoffending and defenceless. 



Mr. Mackay informed me, that in passing over the 

 mountains, he observed several chasms in the earth that 

 emitted heat and smoke, which diffused a strong sulphure- 

 ous stench. I should certainly have visited this pheno- 

 menon, if I had been sufficiently qualified as a naturalist, 

 to have offered scientific conjectures or observations 

 thereon. 



Tuesday 21. It rained in the morning, and did not 

 cease till about eight, and as the men had been very fatigued 

 and disheartened, I suffered them to continue their rest 

 till that hour. Such was the state of the river, as I have 

 already observed, that no alternative was left us ; nor did 

 any means of proceeding present themselves to us, but the 

 passage of the mountain over which we were to carry the 

 canoe as well as the baggage. As this was a very alarm- 

 ing enterprise, I dispatched Mr. Mackay with three men, 

 and the two Indians, to proceed in a straight course from 

 the top of the mountain, and to keep the line of the river 

 till they should find it navigable. If it should be their 

 opinion, that there was no practicable passage in that di- 

 rection, two of them were instructed to return, in order to 

 make their report ; while the others were to go in search 

 of the Indian carrying-place. While they were engaged 

 m this excursion, the people who remained with me were 

 employed in gumming the canoe, and making handles for 

 the axes. At noon I got an altitude, which made our la- 



