189 



Red-Deer River, where we spent two or three dayspreparin^r 

 the canoes and cargo for our ascent of the river to the moun- 

 tains. The Red-Deer Rivei', on which this Fort is situated, 

 is probably one of the most southern streams which empties 

 its waters into the Frozen Ocean. The whole distance from 

 Fort Assinaboyne to the Rocky Mountains, following the 

 general course of the river^ which runs in a nearly due west 

 direction, may be estimated at about 200 miles. The 

 country is thickly wooded with the same species of trees as 

 were mentioned before; the Pinus Banksiana and Populm 

 haUamiferuj however, becoming much more frequent. 



It was now ascertained that the canoes were so heavily 

 laden, that it would be necessary for some of the party to go 

 by land, and I gladly agreed to be one of these, in order to 

 have the opportunity of seeing the country, and judging of 

 Its probable productions. We quitted the Fort accordingly, 

 on the 1st or 2d of October, and started in high spirits for 

 a journey on horseback. A heavy fall of snow, however, 

 which took place oh the 4th, put a final period to collecting 

 for this season ; it also rendered our progress througb these 

 trackless woods very unpleasant, our horses becoming soon 

 jaded, when the only alternative was to walk, and drive them 

 before us. To add to these misfortunes, the poor animals 

 Were continually sinking in the swamps, from which we found 

 it no easy task to extricate them. The Red-Deer River is 

 ^ery rapid, so that its rise must be considerable, though not 

 discernible when travellings throuo-h the woods which skirt it 



C3 O 



The general appearance of the country is flat, intersected 

 _with lakes and swamps, and occasionally broken undulat- 

 ing ground. The weather during this part of our jour- 

 ney, proved very unfavourable; snow and a thick hg 

 prevented my making much observation on the vegetation, 

 which, however, appeared to bear the same character until 

 ^e approached the mountains. It also forbade my getting 

 any view whatever of the Rocky Mountains, until we 

 actually reached them. We arrived at Jasper's House on 

 the eleventh day, having travelled a distance of 200 miles 

 since we quitted Assinaboyne Fort, under disadvantageous 



