Viewing page 13 of 57

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[start page]]
fish. pass the Russians just as they are about to start, and leave them two bundles of meat, which however they put aboard a birch in charge of an Indian, just what we didnt want. Pass through the narrow strait between a long island | E by S 1/2S) and turn up (N by E) passing and Indian house & grave & come to a steep sand-stone bluff just beyond which trees &c are rushing past at about 7 or 8 knots. The swift current is however narrow. We saw the little fleet of bark canoes swept almost a mile down stream on crossing but went up a little higher in the extreme end of the eddy and pushed across losing not much more than a quarter of a mile. We waited to rest opposite and saw the Russians kill a beaver and come across with about the same luck as ourselves. We then continue on the same side for some distance (NE &
[[end page]]
[[start page]]
E) seeing the banks crumbling from the wear of the water and now and then falling with a noise like thunder. The bank is under worn at the water edge every where from six to 24 inches and large trees often are cast living into the river, which delivers them at its mouth with the roots, branches, top and bark, nicely cleaned off. Passing a very long island we cross to the other side seeing a small densely wooded bluff about 60 ft apparent height the first on the South side of the river. The sides of the river except at the bluffs mentioned are low and wooded so far, almost entirely with tall poplar and willows. The spruce is scarce and small. Poles if not out of poplar would have
[[end page]]