﻿68 VEGETATION ON THE 



which commonly occurs on the snow melting in 

 spring. Some way to the south lies an eminence 

 of considerable height, named by the Crees Wapus- 

 keow-watchi*, and by the Canadians Basquiau. 

 It separates Winepegoos Lake, and Red-Deer Lake 

 and River from the bed of the Saskatchewan. I 

 am ignorant of its geological structure, not having 

 visited it. 



With respect to the forests : The white or sweet 

 cedar {Cupressus tliyoides) disappears on the south 

 side of Rainy Lake, within the American boun- 

 dary line. The Weymouth pine, various maples, 

 cockspur thorns, and the fern-leaved Comptonia, 

 reach the southern slope of the Winipeg basin. 

 Oaks extend to the islands and narrows of that lake. 

 The elm, ash, arbor vita3, and ash-leaved maple ter- 

 minate on the banks of the Saskatchewan. The 

 " wild rice," or Folle avomef of the voyagers and 

 traders, grows abundantly in the district between 

 Lakes Superior and Winipeg. This grain resembles 

 rice in its qualities, but has a sweeter taste. Though 

 small, it swells much in cooking, and is nourishing, 

 but its black husk renders it uninviting in its 

 natural state. In favourable seasons it affords 

 sustenance to a populous tribe of Indians, but the 



* Wapus, strait ; Ke-ow, woods ; Watchi, hill : the signifi- 

 cation being, " a pass through woods on a hill." 



•]■ Zizania aquatica L., or Hydropyrwn esculenticm of Link. 



