178 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



not advisable to encounter the vast numbers of 

 plain Indians now collected together on the soath. 

 The first night after our departure we kept careful 

 watch over our horses, fearful lest the Indians from 

 whom we had purchased them might attempt to 

 steal them back. For it is common enough for them 

 to repent having parted with their horses, and ease 

 their minds by again taking possession of their 

 former property. The night passed quietly, and we 

 turned in with daylight for a few hours' rest before 

 starting again. 



We now entered a most glorious country — not 

 indeed grandly picturesque, but rich and beautiful : 

 a country of rolling hills and fertile valleys, of lakes 

 and streams, groves of birch and aspen, and minia- 

 ture prairies ; a land of a kindly soil, and full of 

 promise to the settler to come in future years, 

 when an enlightened policy shall open out the wealth 

 now uncared-for or unknown. 



Our live stock was increased before reaching 

 Edmonton by the birth of a foal, but this did not 

 delay us in the least. The foal was tied on to a 

 "travaille " for the first day, and thus drawn along 

 by its mother ; and after that marched bravely all 

 day, swdmming the rivers we had to cross in gallant 

 style. 



On the way we frequently met with marks of the 

 labours of the beaver in days long gone by, when they 

 were a numerous and powerful race ; and at one place 

 we found a long chain of marshes, formed by the 

 damming up of a stream which had now ceased to 



