36 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



As the altitude of these falls has attracted the attention 

 of several observers, the different results obtained may 

 not be without interest : — 



Feet. 



Altitude ascertained by leveling (Mr. Dawson, August, 1857) , 119-05 



Capt. (now Col.) Lefroy, barometrical measurement . . . 115*00 



Mr. Murray, of the Canadian Geological Survey .... 119*00 



Major Delafield 125*00 



Sir John Richardson, barometrical measurement .... 127*00 



Lieuts. Scott and Denny* 130*00 



Assuming the height of Ka-ka-beka to be 119 feet, the 

 summit will be 175 feet above Lake Superior. This 

 result includes the rapids at the foot of the falls. The 

 levels were taken along the portage path, and, if the 

 rapids be deducted, the true height of Ka-ka-beka pro- 

 bably does not exceed 105 feet. 



The scenery of the Grand Falls is extremely beautiful. 

 The river precipitates its yellowish-brown waters over a 

 sharp ledge into a narrow and profound gorge. The 

 plateau above the portage cliff, and nearly on a level 

 with the summit of the falls, is covered with a pro- 

 fusion of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pigeon 

 cherry, and various flowering plants, among which the 

 bluebell was most conspicuous. On the left side of the 

 falls a loose talus is covered with wild mint and grasses 

 which grow luxuriantly under the spray. Beautiful rain- 

 bows of very intense colour are continually projected on 

 this talus, when the position of the sun and the clearness 

 of the sky are favourable. Numerous small springs 

 trickle down a perpendicular cliff of about 12 feet in alti- 

 tude at the base of the talus, whose coolness and clear- 

 ness, compared with the warm, coloured waters of the 

 river, make them a delicious beverage, the difference 



* Sir Jno. Richardson's Arctic Searching Expedition. 



