TRAVELS 
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amazing velocity of the current, foem to confpire to its dedruc- 
tion. You cannot perform this padage by Limply following the 
dream ; but the boat muft go with an accelerated quicknefs, 
which diould be at lead; double to that of the current. Two 
boatmen, the mod; adive and robud that can be found, mud ufe 
their utmod exertions in rowing the whole time, in order that the 
boat may overcome the force of the dream, while one perfon is 
dationed at the helm to regulate its diredion as circumftances 
may require. The rapidity of this defcent is fuch, that you ac~ 
complidi an Englifh mile in the fpace of three or four minutes. 
The man that manages the rudder can, with difficulty, fee the 
rocks he mud keep clear of: he turns the head of the boat di- 
redly in the line of the rock he means to pafs, and when he is in 
the very indant of touching it, he fuddenly makes a fharp angle 
and leaves it behind him. The trembling padenger thinks that 
he diall fee the boat dallied in a thoufand pieces, and the moment 
after he is adonifhed at his own exidence. Add to all this, that 
the waves rufh into the boat from all fides, and drench you to the 
fkin ; while, at other times, a billow will dafli over the boat from 
fide to fide, and fcarcely touch you. It is a fituation which pre- 
fents danger in fuch frightful fhapes, that you could hardly open 
your eyes and refrain from trembling, though a perfon with the 
greated certainty fhould adure you that you would not fuder any 
harm. Several people, however, have peridied in this place ; and 
there were but two men in the village of Muonio who thought 
themfelves qualified to conduct the defcent: thefe were an old 
man 
