46 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



route; but our emigrants, following the guide's advice, determined 

 to take that on the south side, as being both better and shorter. 

 Having spent the day in making small purchases and in discussing 

 their future movements they once more crossed the North Saskatchc; 

 wan. The bateau, or row boat as the diary names it, was large 

 enough to carry five or six carts. The animals as usual swam the 

 river. 



The next morning the whole camp was in motion at three o'clock. 

 The trail was very rough and scarcely perceptible. "We find the 

 guide very useful," says the diary, "sometimes we could not see any 

 track at all." Antelope were seen, but though given chase none were 

 obtained. A very large wolf, which had boldly ventured into the 

 camp to pilfer, was shot by Mr. Fannin. Up to this time the weather 

 had been generally fine, but now the deluge. From July 11th to 

 July 21st it rained almost constantly. The diary gives a melancholy 

 picture of sodden ground, brimming streams, and soaking clothing. 

 The numerous tributaries feeding the Saskatchewan became so swollen 

 that the regular fording places were quite impassable. During 

 three consecutive days eight bridges from forty to one hundred feet 

 in length were constructed. Any stream less than four feet deep was 

 waded. On one occasion the waters having spread over an adjacent 

 plain the party were obliged to wade waist-deep for more than half 

 a mile. Question arose whether this were really the Overland Route, 

 but Mr. Fannin jocularly remarked that it was at least three feet 

 over land wherever he had tried it. 



In one of the lulls of the tempest intense fog settled down and 

 they were compelled to encamp at 4 a.m. after only an hour's travel, 

 "the guide not being able to keep the trail." After breakfast "the 

 guide went in search of the tracks, which had been very dim from 

 Fort Pitt; in fact, most of the way, none at all." After five hours' 

 search the trail was found and the journey westward resumed; and 

 drenched by day and chilled by night stolidly they marched along. 

 One Sunday during this trying time Mr. Robinson preached upon 

 Acts xxviii, 15: "He thanked God and took courage," certainly, as 

 the diary has it, "very appropriate for the occasion." The country, 

 generally speaking, was rolling, dotted with groves of birch and 

 aspen and interspersed with occasional bits of prairie which had the 

 appearance of great fertility. 



At last about eight o'clock on the evening of July 21st, they, in 

 the words of the diary, "popped out of the bush on the river banks 

 opposite Edmonton, without knowing how close they were to it. It is 

 a splendid looking spot on a level flat. The weather cleared up and 



