North-West Continent of America. 277 



our first encampment on this river about seven in the even- 

 ing. The water fell considerably in the course of the day. 



Saturday 10. The weather was cloudy with slight, 

 showers, and at five this morning we embarked, the water 

 falling as fast as it had risen. This circumstance arises 

 from the mountainous state of the country on either side 

 of the river, from whence the water rushes down almost 

 as fast as it falls from the heavens, with the addition of 

 the snow it melts in its way. At eight in the evening we 

 stopped for the night. 



Sunday 11. At five this morning we proceeded with 

 clear weather. At ten we came to the foot of the long 

 rapid, which we ascended with poles much easier than we 

 expected. The rapids that were so strong, and violent 

 in our passage downwards, were now so reduced, that we 

 could hardly believe them to be the same. At sun-set We 

 landed and encamped. 



Monday 12. The weather was the same as yesterday, 

 and we were on the water at a very early hour. At nine 

 we came to a part of the river where there was little or no 

 current. At noon we landed to gum the canoe, when I 

 took a meridian altitude, which gave 54. 11. 36. North 

 latitude. We continued our route nearly East, and at 

 three in the afternoon approached the fork, when I took 

 time, and the distance between the sun and moon. Afc 

 four in the afternoon we left the main branch. The cur- 

 rent was quite slack, as the water had fallen six feet, which 

 must have been in the course of three days. At sun-set 

 we landed and took our station for the night. 



Tuesday 13. There was a very heavy rain in the night, 

 and the morning was cloudy ; we renewed our voyage, 

 however, at a very early hour, and came to the narrow 

 gut between the mountains of rock, which was a passage 

 of some risk ; but fortunately the state of the water was 

 such, that we got up without any difficulty, and had more 

 time to examine these extraordinary rocks than in our 

 outward passage. They are as perpendicular as a wall, 

 and give the idea of a succession of enormous Gothic 

 churches. We were now closely hemmed in by the moun- 

 tains, which have lost much of their snow since our former 

 passage by them. We encamped at a late hour, cold, wet, 

 and hungry : for such was the state of our provisions, that 

 our necessary allowance did not answer to the active crav- 

 ings of our appetites. 



