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A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



small stream which flows from an adjoining lake. The Coppex- 

 Mine River, at this point, is about two hundred yards wide, and 

 ten feet deep, and flows very rapidly over a rocky bottom. The 

 scenery of its banks is picturesque, the hills shelve to the water- 

 side, and are well covered with wood, and the surface of the rocks 

 is richly ornamented with lichens. The Indians say that the 

 same kind of country prevails as far as Mackenzie's River in this 

 parallel ; but that the land to the eastward is perfectly barren. 

 Akaitcho and one of the Indians killed two deer, which were im- 

 mediately sent for. Two of the hunters arrived in the night, and 

 we learned that their companions, instead of being in advance, as we 

 supposed, were staying at the place where we first found the river 

 open. They had only seen our fires last evening, and had sent to 

 examine who we were. The circumstance of having passed them 

 was very vexatious, as they had three deer en cache at their en- 

 campment. However, an Indian was sent to desire those who re- 

 mained to join us, and bring the meat. 



We embarked at nine A.M. on July 2nd, and descended a suc- 

 cession of strong rapids for three miles. We were carried along 

 with extraordinary rapidity, shooting over large stones, upon which 

 a single stroke would have been destructive to the canoes ; and we 

 were also in danger of breaking them, from the want of the long 

 poles which lie along their bottoms and equahze their cargoes, as 

 they plunged very much, and on one occasion the first canoe was 

 almost filled with the waves. But there was no receding after we 

 had once launched into the stream, and our safety depended on the 

 skill and dexterity of the bowmen and steersmen. The banks of the 

 river here are rocky, and the scenery beautiful ; consisting of gentle 

 elevations and dales wooded to the edge of the stream, and flanked 

 on both sides at the distance of three or four miles by a range of 

 round-backed barren hills, upwards of six hundred feet high. At 

 the foot of the rapids the high lands receded to a greater distance. 



