DESCENT OF THE GRAND RAPID. 



467 



After eating a hasty meal we re-embarked to run the 

 lower portion of the rapid.* The voyageurs wished me 

 to walk through the woods to the foot of the rapid (pro- 

 bably to lighten the canoe), but as the day was already 

 far advanced, and being anxious to reach Lake Winnipeg, 

 as well as for other reasons, I deemed it expedient to go 

 down u in canoe." 



In running the rapid we followed as closely as possible 

 the instructions given to us by our old guide on the 

 Plains (John Spence), who had often piloted the old 

 North- West Company's North canoes down its entire 

 length. In attempting, according to his directions, to 

 cross from the north to the south side of the rapid in 

 order to get into what was reported to be the best chan- 

 nel for a small canoe, such was the fierceness of the cur- 

 rent, and the turbulence of the great surges and breakers 

 in the middle, that we were nearly engulfed ; and 

 although every nerve was strained we were swept down 

 with impetuous velocity, and did not get near the other 

 side till we were about three quarters of a mile below our 

 starting point. We were then impelled with astonishing 

 swiftness along the south side of the torrent, often in dan- 

 gerous proximity to the rugged wall of rocks bounding 

 the channel, and now and then whizzing past — almost 

 grazing — sharp rocky points jutting out into the river, 

 against which the thundering waters seethed and foamed 

 in their fury. During the descent the voyageurs exerted 

 themselves to the utmost of their strength, and evinced 

 an admirable degree of coolness and dexterity. 



The Grand Eapid is acknowledged by those who have 

 witnessed it, and who have had opportunities of traversing 



* The part here designated as the lower portion, although the Grand 

 Rapid is one continuous torrent from beginning to end, is that below the 

 east end of the portage, and is more than one mile and a half in length, 



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