Notwithstanding these obstacles, we advanced at the rate of two miles an hour, one-half of the crew relieving the other at intervals of an hour and a half.

The banks of the river, and its islands, composed of alluvial soil, are well covered with pines, larches, poplars, and willows.

The breadth of the stream, some distance above the Factory, is about half a mile, and its depth, during this day's voyage, varied from three to nine feet.
At sunset we landed, and pitched the tent for the night, having made a progress of twelve miles.

A large fire was quickly kindled, supper speedily prepared, and as readily despatched, when we retired with our buffalo robes on, and enjoyed a night of sound repose.
It may here be stated, that the survey of the river was made by taking the bearings of every point with a pocket compass, estimating the distances, and making a connected eye-sketch of the whole.

This part of the survey was allotted to Messrs.