Journals, стр. 58

the paddles; the depth was too great to receive any assistance from the poles, and the bank of the river was so closely lined with willows and other trees, that it was impossible to employ the line. As it was past twelve before we could find a place that would allow of our landing, I could not get a meridian altitude. We occupied the rest of the day in repairing the canoe, drying our clothes, and making paddles and poles to replace those which had been broken or lost.

Friday, June 7.⁠—The morning was clear and calm; and since we had been at this station the water had risen two inches; so that the current became still stronger; and its velocity had already been so great as to justify our despair in getting up it, if we had not been so long accustomed to surmount. I last night observed an emersion of Jupiter’s first satellite, but inadvertently went to bed, without committing the exact time to writing: if my memory is correct, it was 8:18:10 by the timepiece. The canoe, which had been little better than a wreck, being now repaired, we proceeded east two miles and a quarter, south-southeast half a mile, southeast a quarter of a mile, when we landed to take an altitude for time. We continued our route at southeast by east three quarters of a mile, and landed again to determine the latitude, which is 55° 2′ 51″ To this I add, 2° 45′ southing, which will make the place of taking altitude for time 55° 5′ 36″ with which I find that my timepiece was slow 1:32:23 apparent time; and made the longitude obtained 122° 35′ 50″ west of Greenwich.

From this place we proceeded east by south four miles and a half, east-southeast one mile and a half, in which space there falls in a small river from the east; east half a mile, southeast a mile and a half, east a quarter of a mile, and encamped at seven o’clock. Mr. Mackay and the hunters walked the greatest part of the day, and in the course of their excursion killed a porcupine. 14 Here we found the bed of a very large bear quite fresh. During the day several Indian encampments were seen, which were of a late erection. The current had also lost some of its impetuosity during the greater part of the day.

Saturday, June 8.⁠—It rained and thundered through the night, and at four in the morning we again encountered the current. Our course was east a quarter of a mile, round to south by east along a very high white sandy bank on the east shore, three quarters of a mile, south-southeast a quarter of a mile, south-southwest a quarter of a mile, south-southeast one mile and a quarter, southeast two miles, with a slack current; southeast by east two miles and a quarter, east a quarter of a mile, south-southeast a quarter of a mile, southeast by south four miles and a half, southeast one mile and a half, south-southwest half a mile, east-northeast half a mile, east-southeast a quarter of a mile, southeast by south one mile, southeast by east half a mile, east by south three quarters of a mile, when the mountains were in full view in this direction, and eastward. For the three last days we could only see them at short intervals and long distances; but till then, they were continually in sight on either side, from our entrance into the fork. Those to the left were at no great distance from us.

For the last two days we had been anxiously looking out for the carrying-place, but could not discover it, and our only hope was in such information as we should be able to procure from the natives. All that remained for us to do, was to push forwards till the river should be no longer navigable: it had now, indeed, overflowed its banks, so that it was eight at night before we could discover a place to encamp. Having found plenty of wild parsnips, we gathered the tops, and boiled them with pemmican for our supper.

Sunday, June 9.⁠—The rain of this morning terminated in a heavy mist at half past five, when we embarked and steered southeast one mile and a half, when it veered north-northeast half a mile, southeast three quarters of a mile, east by south three quarters of a mile, east-southeast a quarter of a mile, south-southeast a quarter of a mile, southeast by east one mile, northeast by east half a mile, southeast by east half a mile, southeast by south three quarters of a mile, southeast three quarters of a mile, east by south half a mile, southeast by east half a mile, east-northeast three quarters of a mile, when it veered to south-southeast half a mile, then back to east (when a blue mountain, clear of snow, appeared ahead) one mile and a half; northeast by east half a mile, east by north one mile, when it veered to southeast half a mile, then on to northwest three quarters of a mile, and back to northeast by east half a mile, south by west a quarter of a mile, northeast by east to north-northeast half a mile, south-southeast a quarter of a mile, and east by north half a mile; here we perceived a smell of fire; and in a short time heard people in the woods, as if in a state of great confusion, which was occasioned, as we afterwards understood, by their discovery of us. At the same time this unexpected circumstance produced some little discomposure among ourselves, as our arms were not in a state of preparation, and we were as yet unable to ascertain the number of the party. I considered, that if there were but few, it would be needless to pursue them, as it would not be probable that we should overtake them in