North-West Continent of America, 



169 



however, there did not appear to be any fall as we ex- 

 pected ; but the rapids were of a considerable length and 

 impassable for a light canoe. We had, therefore, no al- 

 ternative but to widen the road so as to admit the passage 

 of our canoe, which was now carried with great difficulty : 

 as from her frequent repairs, and not always of the usual 

 materials, her weight was such, that she cracked and broke 

 on the shoulders of the men who bore her. The labour 

 and fatigue of this undertaking, from eight till twelve, 

 beggars all description, when we at length conquered this 

 afflicting passage, of about half a mile, over a rocky and 

 most rugged hill. Our course was South-South- West. 

 Here I took a meridian altitude, which gave me 53. 42. 20, 

 North latitude. We, however, lost some time to put our 

 canoe in a condition to carry us onwards. Our course 

 was South a quarter of a mile to the next carrying-place ; 

 which was nothing more than a rocky point about twice 

 the length of the canoe. From the extremity of this point 

 to the rocky and almost perpendicular bank that rose on 

 the opposite shore, is not more than forty or fifty yards. 

 The great body of water, at the same time tumbling in 

 successive cascades along the first carrying-place, rolls 

 through this narrow passage in a very turbid current, and 

 full of whirlpools. On the banks of the river there was 

 great plenty of wild onions, which, when mixed up with 

 our pemmican, was a great improvement of it ; though 

 they produced a physical effect on our appetites, which was 

 rather inconvenient to the state of our provisions. 



Here we embarked, and steered South-East by East 

 three quarters of a mile. We now saw a smoke on the 

 shore ; but before we could reach land, the natives had de- 

 serted their camp, which appeared to be erected for no 

 more than two families. My two Indians were instantly 

 dispatched in search of them, and, by following their 

 tracks, they soon overtook them ; but their language was 

 mutually unintelligible ; and all attempts to produce a 

 friendly communication were fruitless. They no sooner 

 perceived my young men than they prepared their bows 

 and arrows and made signs for them not to advance ; and 

 they thought it prudent to desist from proceeding, though 

 not before the natives had discharged five arrows at them, 

 which, however, they avoided, by means of the trees. 

 When they returned with this account, I very much re- 

 gretted that I had not accompanied them : as these people 



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