[Garry ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 135 
are of the Spanish Breed. Their Sufferings from the Musquitoes and 
Sand Flies are dreadful. They were under Tents made of the Skins of 
Buffaloes with Fires before them to smoke off the Flies. At the Back 
of the Tents are immense Plains with the most ‘luxuriant Grass uncul- 
tivated, but furnishing ample Food for the Horses. In ten Minutes 
Paddling we arrived at the Encampment of the Indians who have culti- 
vated Fields of Corn Indian. Their Chief is called the Cut Nose from 
having lost a Part of his Nose in an Affray. He is a good looking Man 
of 50, has always been a great Friend of the Colony and once actually 
defended it from the Attacks of their blood thirsty Enemies. Having 
no Rum I promised to make him a formal Visit on my Return. There 
were a great many Women; the Chiefs Daughter very pretty. The 
Cut Nose is anxious that Mr. Bird’s Son should marry her. The young 
Men were gone on a War Party to attack their Enemies the Sieux. 
These Indians are Sauteux, so called by the French; they are of the 
Chipeway Tribe. 
The Banks are now covered with high beautiful Trees, the Maple 
(from which they make a very nice Sugar), the Elm, Oak, &. I was 
particularly struck with the Richness and beautiful Foliage of the 
Woods. [Saw] the bald headed Vulture, and the white tailed and 
headed Eagle. On a Lake about 20 Miles distant there are large Woods 
of Maple which is the Country where they get their Supplies of Sugar 
from. [Saw] King Fishers—Doves and Pigeons. No Appearance yet 
of the Grasshopper. When Mr. Bird passed 3 years before all the 
Leaves and Grass were eaten up by them. The Ash grows on stony 
Ground, the Maple, Oak and Elm on rich Soil. When a Wood of Pine 
has been burnt the Ash, Birch, grow up, the Soil having been improved 
by the Fire; at least this is the only way to account for it. The Woods 
on each Side are beautiful; deep dark Shade of the Oak, Elm, Maple 
impervious to the Sun ; the Banks rich high Grass ; great Variety of 
Flowers and Weeds, these creeping amongst the Trees and of a Verdure 
and Richness not be surpassed. The River is muddy and the Water not 
good tasted; no Springs, nor would it be possible to find one from the 
Nature of the Soil. The River winds but its general Course is North 
and South. After Paddling 6 Hours we came to a high Bank and beyond 
it a fine Plain with the most luxuriant Grass. At half-past six we arrived 
at the only Rapid we met with, which we run. We found at its Foot a 
man surrounded by at least 100 Dogs which he receives in Pension at 2 
Dollars per Day. They subsist entirely on Fish and Grass. In Winter 
they are indispensably necessary to drawn Goods on Sledges. The Man 
had chosen an excellent Fishing Place. The Dogs are of the Wolf 
