Page:Across the sub-Arctics of Canada (1897).djvu/132

 highest latitude attained on our journey, namely 64° 48['] north. This as a high latitude does not, of course, amount to anything, but the attainment of a high latitude was not an object of our expedition, though scores of times the question has been asked of me, "How far north did you get?"

At this entrance to the river a large area of highly glaciated granitic rocks was observed, and the channel was well formed and deep. Both banks were high and rocky, and the current swift. Notwithstanding the weather our canoes were kept in the stream, though it was with difficulty I was able to carry on the survey and keep my notes.

About seven miles down stream a very rocky rapid was discovered. On examination we found it could be run for a considerable distance, and that for the remaining distance only a short portage would have to be made.

The contents of the canoes being all safely landed below the rapids, they themselves were run down by the Iroquois through the foaming waters. Had it not been for our good steersman Pierre many and many a rapid through which our little crafts were guided in safety would have caused us much laborious portaging. If a rapid could be run at all in safety, Pierre had the skill and nerve to do it. During the scores of times that he piloted our little fleet through foaming waters, I believe I am correct in saying that his canoe never once touched a rock; but that is more than can be said of those who followed him.

After reloading the canoes we sped down with the current at a rate of about eight miles an hour, with