122 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



the meat and furs they should collect, for the North- West Company. 

 He accompanied us as far as the stage on which his meat was placed, 

 and then gave us a very pressing invitation to halt for the day and 

 partake of his fare ; which, as the hour was too early, we declined, 

 much to the annoyance of our Canadian companions, who had been 

 cherishing the prospect of indulging their amazing appetites at this 

 well- furnished store, ever since the man had been with us. He gave 

 them, however, a small supply previous to our party. The route 

 now crossed some ranges of hills, on which fir, birch, and poplar, grew 

 so thickly, that we had much difficulty in getting the sledges through 

 the narrow pathway between them. In the evening we descended 

 from the elevated ground, crossed three swampy meadows, and en- 

 camped at their northern extremity, within a cluster of large pine- 

 trees, the branches of which were elegantly decorated with abun- 

 dance of a greenish yellow lichen. Our march was ten miles. The 

 weather was very mild, almost too warm for the exercise we were 

 taking. , % -j| if 



We had a strong gale from the N.W. during the night, which sub- 

 sided as the morning opened. One of the sledges had been so much 

 broken yesterday amongst the trees, that we had to divide its cargo 

 among the others. We started after this had been arranged, and 

 finding almost immediately a firm track, we soon arrived at some 

 Indian lodges to which it led. The inhabitants were Crees, be- 

 longing to the posts on the Saskatchawan, from whence they had 

 come to hunt beaver. We made but a short stay, and proceeded 

 through a Swamp to Pelican Lake. Our view to the right was 

 bounded by a range of lofty hills, which extended for several miles 

 in a north and south direction, which, it may be remarked, has been 

 that of all the hilly land we have passed since quitting the plain. 



Pelican Lake is of an irregular form, about six miles from east to 

 west, and eight from north to south ; it decreases to the breadth of 

 a mile towards the northern extremity, and is there terminated by a 



