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207 



McDonald's family were incapable of travelling, he agreed to 

 encamp and remain with the luggage, while a clerk belonging 

 to the Company and myself prosecuted our journey on foot 

 to Fort Assinaboyne, whence we were to send horses to his 

 assistance. We had calculated on reaching this place in 

 three days, but it was the fifth evening before we arrived, 

 having, however, met with no other hindrance than the 

 unavoidable hardships of such a journey. On the way I re- 

 marked the Scheuchzeria palustris growing in a small lake, 

 its seed-vessels only appearing above the ice. I met with 

 this plant in no other situation. We received much kind- 

 ness, on our arrival, from Mr. Harriot, the gentleman who 

 has the charge of the Fort, who also sent horses, as soon as 

 they could be procured, to the relief of Mr. M'Donald, who 

 had suffered great anxiety from the delay occasioned by our 

 long journey, and whose provisions were nearly exhausted. 

 He reached us, happily, about the 1st of December, bringing 

 with him the whole of the luggage in good order. After 



resting here for a few days, we prosecuted our journey to 

 Edmonton House, where w^e intended to winter, and got 

 there about the middle of December, being most kindly 

 welcomed by J. Rowand, Esq. Superintendant of the Fort. 

 I immediately applied myself to the examination and arrange- 

 ment of my specimens, which, it gave me much pleasure to 

 find, were in excellent preservation, and as I now considered 

 the most hazardous part of the expedition to be over, I spent 

 the three succeeding months in comparative ease and com- 

 fort. In the beginning of February, I received the agreeable 

 intelligence from Dr. Richardson of the complete success of 

 his undertaking, and that he expected to be at Carlton 

 House in February, where he desired me to join him as soon 

 as convenient. Accordingly, I quitted Edmonton House in 

 the middle of March, taking with me a single specimen of 

 every plant gathered among the Rocky Mountains; also a 

 train of dogs, and a half-bred and Indian guide. Owing to 

 some misunderstanding between the Hudson's Bay Company 

 and the Indians of the plains, it was considered unsafe to 

 pursue the usual track between the Posts, which very much 



VOL. I. p 



