Nov. 23, 1857.] BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION. 
41 
dashed it to pieces, I myself narrowly escaping by jumping out of 
the way. The rain was very severe, and the men very much ex- 
posed, being obliged frequently to get out up to their middles in 
water to assist in bringing up the canoes. 
Owing to the accident which befel our boat with the provisions, 
we were obliged to return the next day. 
Dr. Hector and I started accordingly on foot at 6 a.m., June 14th, 
straight through thick woods, in the direction of the Falls of the 
Kakebeka, distant, by our calculation, 27 miles, taking two Indians 
with us, and sending back the remaining canoes with the third 
Indian and the three voyageurs to the camp at the mouth of the 
White Fish Eiver, with directions for the whole party to go on to 
the Falls of Kakebeka and meet us there. 
On leaving the course of the White Fish River we ascended a 
steep bank into a region of larch woods, and, contrary to our ex- 
pectations from the previous reports, found no difficulty in pushing 
forward at the rate of 3J- miles through the country intercepted be- 
tween the White Fish and Kaministoquoiah Rivers, and if we could 
take our experience of that portion of the country for a fair average 
of the whole, I do not apprehend any difficulty in connecting, either 
by means of railroad or a common road, the country around Fort 
William with the south shore of Sturgeon Lake ; but the accident 
which occurred to our boat and provisions took place before we 
reached the waterparting which must necessarily exist between the 
head of W 7 hite Fish River and the waters which flow into Lake 
Winipeg, and therefore it still remains to be seen what amount of 
difficulty to overcome the waterparting will present at that point, 
compared with that which it offers, both on the Old Portage Route 
and the Northern Portage Route, which we have followed. 
All this time heavy rain fell with little intermission, and detained 
us for several days after we had arrived at the Kakebeka Falls. 
On the 23rd we reached the height of land, and next morniug 
crossed the Savannah Portage into the Savannah River, and com- 
menced the descent of the water-parting towards Lake Winipeg. 
On the 1st July we arrived at Fort Francis on Lac la Pluie or Rainy 
Lake, and, while at breakfast in the fort, a large number of Indians 
formed a deputation, headed by their chiefs with their soldiers, and 
led by the old chief of the Lac la Pluie nation. It seems that they 
had heard a rumour of my arrival, and had organized this deputation 
for some time previously.* This fact I would not have taken up 
your time by dwelling on, were it not for the high tone which the 
See Note at p. 50 . — Ed. 
