Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/56



48 T/ C. ELLIOTT

m, N. 60 W. iy 2 m, walked, we then went down the rest of it to another Strong Rapid on the right, the left good, its course S. 72 W. % m. We put the goods ashore and car- ried them about 200 yards, very bad with wet ground and branches to an embarass of wood. The canoe was run down hereto, but in doing this they ran too close to a drift tree on a rock which tore part of the upper lath away and struck Ignace out of the stern of the canoe, although he had never swam in his life he swam so as to keep himself above the waves till they turned the canoe around to take him up. We then looked out for a better campment as the place was only rude stones, but found none, the banks coming down steep to the river, and put up at 7 P. M., having lost about one hour in gathering wood today and looking for a camp etc., visiting the rapids etc. I bled Ignace. All this day the cur- rent has been very strong with many rapids and whirlpools. The first part of the land always fine though high and many fine prospects. Latterly this country, though still meadows, showed much rock, and the last few courses much isolated rocks and large stones near the water's edge, and the banks steep of loose earth and stones, dangerous as the least thing loosens them and they roll with impetuosity to the river. There are no woods but a chance tree, and then of straggling fir. The whole may be said to be a vast low mountain of meadow showing much rock, irrigated into valleys that come down to the river, the bold lands of the mountain forming as it were so many promontories that drive the river now to the southd., now to the northd. and westd., but always confining it within a deep narrow channel, whose waters thus contracted dash from side to side with the violence of the current, as the water is very high, having lowered only about 18 in as yet or 2 feet, yet from the trees say about 3 years ago the water must then have been fully ten feet higher than now, if not more. We split out wood for two paddles as we have already broke two. Killed one old and one young goose.