38 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



nized, from its size, to be the Copper-Mine. 

 It flowed to the northward, and after wind- 

 ing about five miles, terminated in Point 

 Lake. Its current was swift, and there 

 were two rapids in this part of its course, 

 which in a canoe we could have crossed 

 with ease and safety. These rapids, as 

 well as every other part of the river, were 

 carefully examined in search of a ford ; but 

 finding none, the expedients occurred of 

 attempting to cross on a raft made of the 

 willows which were growing there, or in a 

 vessel framed with willows, and covered 

 with the canvass of the tents ; but both 

 these schemes were abandoned, through 

 the obstinacy of the interpreters and the 

 most experienced voyagers, who declared 

 that they would prove inadequate to the 

 conveyance of the party, and that much time 

 would be lost in the attempt. The men, in 

 fact, did not believe that this was the Cop- 

 per-Mine River, and so little confidence 

 had they in our reckoning, and so much 

 had they bewildered themselves on the 

 march, that some of them asserted it was 



