134 Journal of a Voyage through the 



as a very uncommon circumstance at this season ; a small 

 quantity of rum, however, served as an adequate substi- 

 tute; and the current being so smooth as to admit of the 

 use of paddles, I encouraged them to proceed without 

 any further delay. In a short time an extensive view 

 opened upon us, displaying a beautiful sheet of water, 

 that was heightened by the calmness of the weather, and 

 a spiendid sun. Here the mountains, which were covered 

 with wood, opened on either side, so that we entertained 

 the hope of soon leaving them behind us. When we had 

 got to the termination of this prospect, the river was 

 barred with rocks, forming cascades and small islands. 

 To proceed onwards, we were under the necessity of 

 clearing a narrow passage of the drift wood, on the left 

 shore. Here the view convinced us that our late hopes 

 were without foundation, as there appeared a ridge or 

 chain of mountains, running South and North as lar as 

 the eye could reach. 



On advancing two or three miles, we arrived at the fork, 

 one branch running about West-North-West, and the other 

 South-South-East. If I had been governed by my own 

 judgment, I should have taken the former, as it appeared 

 to me to be the most likely to bring us nearest to the part 

 where I wished to fall on the Pacific Ocean, but the old 

 man, whom I have already mentioned as having been fre- 

 quently on war-expeditions in this country, had warned 

 me not, on any account, to follow it, as it was soon lost in 

 various branches among the mountains, and that there was 

 no great river that ran in any direction near it ; but by fol- 

 lowing the latter, he said, we should arrive at a carrying- 

 place to another large river, that did not exceed a day's 

 march, where the inhabitants build houses, and live upon 

 islands. There was so much apparent truth in the old 

 man's narrative, that I determined to be governed by it; 

 for I did not entertain the least doubt, if I could get into 

 the other river, that I should reach the ocean. 



I accordingly ordered my steersman to proceed at once 

 to the East branch, which appeared to be more rapid than 

 the other, though it did not possess an equal breadth. 

 These circumstances disposed my men and Indians, the 

 latter in particular being very tired of the voyage, to ex- 

 press their wishes that I should take the Western branch, 

 especially when they perceived the difficulty of stemming 

 the current in the direction on which I had determined. 



