OF THE POLAR SEA. 



131 



comrades. They got alarmed in the middle 

 of the rapid, the canoe was upset, and every 

 man perished. 



The various rapids we passed this day 

 are produced by an assemblage of islands 

 and rocky ledges, which obstruct the river, 

 and divide it into many narrow channels. 

 Two of these channels are rendered still 

 more difficult by accumulations of drift 

 timber ; a circumstance which has given a 

 name to one of the portages. The rocks 

 which compose the bed of the river, and 

 the numerous islands, belong to the granite 

 formation. The distance made to-day was 

 thirteen miles. 



July 21. — We embarked at four A.M. 

 and pursued our course down the river. 

 The rocks cease at the last portage ; and 

 below it the banks are composed of alluvial 

 soil, which is held together by the roots of 

 trees and shrubs that crown their summits. 

 The river is about a mile wide, and the 

 current is greatly diminished. At eight we 

 landed at the mouth of the Salt River, and 

 pitched our tents, intending to remain there 

 k 2 



