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98 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN
by a limestone shelf extending to the bank, flanked on the
left, and at an acute angle, by a deeply- indented reef of rock.
Looking up the river, the view to the west seems inclosed by
a long line of trees, which, i n the distance, appear to stand in
the water. Thence the vast stream sweeps boldly into the
south, and with a rush discharges down the rapids, and
straight over the line of precipice, i n a vast tumultuous greyish-
drab torrent which speedily emerges into comparatively
still water below. The rock here is an exceedingly hard,
mottled limestone, resembling the stone at St.. Andrew's
Rapids on Red River. Where exposed it is pitted or bitten
into by the endless action of wind and water, and lies in
thick layers, forming an irregular dyke all along the shore,
over the surface of which passes the portage, some forty yards
i n length. Though short, it is a nasty one, running along a
shelf of rock into which great gaps have been gored by the
torrent. Large quantities of driftwood were stuck i n the
rapids above, and a big pile of it had lodged at the south
angle of the cataract, over which our boats had to be drawn,
and dropped down, w i t h great care and difficulty. A roulided,
tall island lies, or rather stands, below the falls, towards the
north shore, whose sheer escarpments and densely wooded top
are very curious and striking. Two sister islands and another
above the falls, all four being about a mile apart, stand in
line with each other, as i f they had once formed parts of an
ancient marge, and, below the falls, the torrent has wrought
out a sort of bay from the rock, the bank, which is high here,
giving that night upon its grassy slope, overhung with dense
pine woods, a picturesque camp to our boatmen. The vast
river, the rapids and the falls form a majestic picture, not
only of material grandeur, but of power to be utilized some
day i n the service of man. Though formidable, they w i l l yet
he surmounted by modern locks; and should Smith's Rapids,
on the Great Slave River, be overcome by canalling, there
would then he developed one of the longest lines of inland
navigation on the continent.
Object Description
Description
| Title | Page 111 |
| OCR | 98 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN by a limestone shelf extending to the bank, flanked on the left, and at an acute angle, by a deeply- indented reef of rock. Looking up the river, the view to the west seems inclosed by a long line of trees, which, i n the distance, appear to stand in the water. Thence the vast stream sweeps boldly into the south, and with a rush discharges down the rapids, and straight over the line of precipice, i n a vast tumultuous greyish- drab torrent which speedily emerges into comparatively still water below. The rock here is an exceedingly hard, mottled limestone, resembling the stone at St.. Andrew's Rapids on Red River. Where exposed it is pitted or bitten into by the endless action of wind and water, and lies in thick layers, forming an irregular dyke all along the shore, over the surface of which passes the portage, some forty yards i n length. Though short, it is a nasty one, running along a shelf of rock into which great gaps have been gored by the torrent. Large quantities of driftwood were stuck i n the rapids above, and a big pile of it had lodged at the south angle of the cataract, over which our boats had to be drawn, and dropped down, w i t h great care and difficulty. A roulided, tall island lies, or rather stands, below the falls, towards the north shore, whose sheer escarpments and densely wooded top are very curious and striking. Two sister islands and another above the falls, all four being about a mile apart, stand in line with each other, as i f they had once formed parts of an ancient marge, and, below the falls, the torrent has wrought out a sort of bay from the rock, the bank, which is high here, giving that night upon its grassy slope, overhung with dense pine woods, a picturesque camp to our boatmen. The vast river, the rapids and the falls form a majestic picture, not only of material grandeur, but of power to be utilized some day i n the service of man. Though formidable, they w i l l yet he surmounted by modern locks; and should Smith's Rapids, on the Great Slave River, be overcome by canalling, there would then he developed one of the longest lines of inland navigation on the continent. |
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