﻿1818. PROGRESS OF SPRING. 77 



bed of the river consists of limestone, sometimes 

 lying in nearly horizontal layers more or less 

 fissured ; in other places broken up into large 

 loose slabs, tilted up and riding on each other. 

 Boulders of granite occur in various parts of the 

 river, some of them of considerable magnitude, and 

 rising high out of the water. In the lower part 

 of the river the banks are sandy, a considerable 

 deposit of dry light soil overlies the limestone, and 

 vegetation is early and vigorous. 



When we left Lake Superior, in the middle of 

 May, the deciduous trees gave little promise of 

 life ; and, in ascending the Kamenistikwoya, we 

 were glad to let the eye dwell upon the groves of 

 aspens which skirt the streams in that undulating 

 and rocky district, and which, when well massed, 

 gave a pleasing variety to the wintry aspect of 

 the landscape, — the silvery hue of their leafless 

 branches and young stems contrasting well with 

 the sombre green of the spruce fir, which forms 

 the bulk of the forest. On the 27th of May, while 

 ascending Church Reach of Rainy River, we had 

 been cheered by the lovely yellowish hue of the 

 aspens just unfolding their young leaves; but 

 the ice, lingering on Lake Winipeg, when we 

 crossed it, had kept down the temperature, spring 

 had not yet assumed its sway, and the trees were 

 leafless. Now, the season seemed to be striding 



