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two things at my departure from the Illinois ; firft, 

 that having a very rapid river to defcend, where 

 there was no danger of being ftopt by thofe falls 

 and rapides, fo frequent in the rivers of Canada, I 

 mould not be long on my voyage, though I had the 

 fpace of four hundred leagues to traverfe, by means 

 of the circuits the river makes ; next, that as my 

 courfe lay always to the fouthward, I fhould have 

 no occafion to take any precautions again ft the 

 cold ; but I have been deceived in both thefe par- 

 ticulars. I have been obliged to make a much 

 flower paflage than I had formerly on the lakes, 

 and have felt a cold full as piercing as I ever knew 

 at Quebec. 



It is true, it was quite otherwife at Kafkafquias 

 fome days ago, v/hen 1 left it ; but I have fmce 

 learned on my way hither, that the river was at 

 firft frozen over in fuch a manner that people crof- 

 fed it in carriages, notwithstanding it is at that 

 place half a league broad, and more rapid than the 

 Rhone. This is the more furprifing, as for the 

 moft part, excepting a few flight frofts occafloned 

 by the north and north -weft winds, the winter is in 

 this country hardly feniib'e. The river has not 

 been frozen wherever I have been, but as I was 

 obliged to remain all the day in an open boat, 

 and confequently, was expofed to all the injuries of 

 the weather, and had taken no precautions againft 

 a cold 1 did not forefee, I have fuffered very great 

 hardfhips. 



Could I have made more hafte, I fhould have 

 found a fenfible diminution of this inconvenience 

 every day ; but it is neceffary to ufe great caution 

 in failing on the Miffifippi. People do not chufe 

 to venture themfelves in canoes of bark, by reafon 



that 



