182 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



ground wliicli the fire had passed over. The only 

 pasture we found for our horses was a large marsh 

 w^here we encamped for the night. 



Before we reached Edmonton, our stock of pro- 

 visions, as usual, began to fall short ; but wild-fowl 

 w^ere so plentiful, and w^e collected their eggs in 

 such quantity, that we were never short of food. 

 Baptiste and the Assiniboine family were indifferent 

 as to the condition of the eggs, or indeed rather pre- 

 ferred those which contained good-sized chickens. 

 They would hold up the downy dainty by a leg 

 or wing, and drop it into their mouths, as we 

 should eat asparagus. 



On the 14th of May we came in sight of the 

 Fort, prettily situated on a high cliflT overhanging 

 the river on the northern side. We were quickly 

 fetched over in the Company's barge, and took up 

 our quarters in the building, where we received 

 every kindness and hospitality from the chief trader, 

 Mr. Hardisty. 



