Written in a style suited to its 19th century era, the travelogue is surprisingly readable and not overly descriptive with extravagant observations. These explorations contributed to many early reports of navigating a wilderness having little contact with the more populated coastal towns along the eastern seaboard. New lakes and the occurrence of rapids and some major waterfalls contributed to knowledge the lumbermen needed to send their logs to downstream mills.

The book is illustrated with wonderful steel engravings made from Thomas Steele’s photographs. You would be correct in guessing that these illustrations were in large part why I chose to read about these explorer's exploits.
The natural history was very much in the style of Isaak Walton praising the angling pursuits and extolling the need for accurate records. I certainly marvelled at the group’s intrepid ambition, transporting those cumbersome 1880’s style cameras, hunting and fishing gear, as well as heavy tents and camping supplies.

The explorers, with accompanying guides, were using canvas canoes (not the apparently lighter weight birch bark, which Steel resorted to in a later voyage). Raillery over this choice was often an amusing feature in the story, with the canvas style winning out over birch for speed and durability, assuming the narrative was seriously evaluating such comparison.

What especially struck me in this chronicle was little mention of local, indigenous people. Meantime, isolated farming families with only rivers to connect the people to any sort of town or even other villages, are described as welcoming with hospitable meals and shelter. ( )