it. So Smith
and Young, bidding their friends good fortune, started on their return
trip. The mouth of the river was reached in three days, a little less
than one-third the time consumed in going up, and that, too, with only
one man to handle the boat.

On the way down the river another party, composed of Messrs. Bryant
and Kenaston of Philadelphia, was met, who were on the same business
as the Bowdoin party, the discovery of the falls. Mr. Bryant handed to
Mr. Young a twenty-five pound can of flour, which, he said, he had
found in the whirlpool below the first falls. It had been in the boat
which was overturned in the Horseshoe Rapids, and had made the journey
to the first falls, a distance of over fifty miles, without denting or
injuring the can in any way. It was a great relief to the Bryant party
to learn the cause of the mishap, as they had feared a more serious
calamity.

After the departure of the other two, Messrs. Cary and Cole
encountered much rapid water, so that their progress was necessarily
slow. On the third day, when they had proceeded sixty-five miles above
Lake Waminikapon, and had seen no indications of any falls, the
rapidity of the current forced them to leave the river and make any
further progress on foot. The boat was cached at this point, together
with all that was left of provisions and instruments except the
compass and food for six days. They left just enough provisions to
carry them to their last cache at Ninipi River, and hoped, by careful
use of the remainder, to find the object of their search. If they had
not enough provisions, then they must turn back, leaving reports of
falls as destitute of confirmation as ever.

The land bordering the river at this point was heavily wooded, and in
places where the river shore could not be followed on account of the
cliffs, their progress was necessarily slow. Finding an elevation of
land at no great distance from them, they ascended it for a general
survey of the country. Far away in the distance could be seen the
current of the Grand River flowing sluggishly but majestically on its
course to the sea. Lakes on all sides were visible, most of them
probably of glacial origin. Descending from this mountain, which the
explorers christened Mount Bowdoin, a course was laid on the river
bank, where camp was made that night. Being now somewhat weak from
hard labor and insufficient food, their progress was slow through the
thick wood, but on the next nigh