passed, and the gloomy pines that hang about the
clefts and fissures of the rocks. Fur-traders have given it the name of
the Mountain Fall, from a peculiar mountain in its vicinity; but the
natives call it the _Kackabecka_ Falls. After making a sketch of it,
and getting myself thoroughly wet in so doing, I returned to the canoe.

In the evening we encamped within nine miles of Fort William, having
lost one of our men, who went ashore to lighten the canoe while we ran a
rapid. After a good deal of trouble we found him again, but too late to
admit of our proceeding to the fort that night.

_Wednesday, 24th_.--Early this morning we left the encampment, and after
two hours' paddling Fort William burst upon our gaze, mirrored in the
limpid waters of Lake Superior--that immense fresh-water sea, whose
rocky shores and rolling billows vie with the ocean itself in grandeur
and magnificence.

Fort William was once one of the chief posts in the Indian country, and,
when it belonged to the North-West Company, contained a great number of
men. Now, however, much of its glory has departed. Many of the
buildings have been pulled down, and those that remain are very
rickety-looking affairs. It is still, however, a very important fishing
station, and many hundreds of beautiful white-fish, with which Lake
Superior swarms, are salted there annually for the Canada markets.
These white-fish are indeed excellent; and it is difficult to say
whether they or the immense trout, which are also caught in abundance,
have the most delicate flavour. These trout, as well as white-fish, are
caught in nets; and the former sometimes measure three feet long, and
are proportionately broad. The one we had to breakfast on the morning
of our arrival must have been very nearly this size.

The fur-trade of the post is not very good, but the furs traded are
similar to those obtained in other parts of the country.

A number of _canotes de maitre_, or very large canoes, are always kept
in store here, for the use of the Company's travellers. These canoes
are of the largest size, exceeding the north canoe in length by several
feet, besides being much broader and deeper. They are used solely for
the purpose of travelling on Lake Superior, being much too large and
cumbersome for travelling with through the interior. They are carried
by four men instead of two, like the north canoe; and, besides being
capable of carrying twice as much cargo, are paddled b