104 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



sticks and ponds in places, well stored with Ducks, abundance of stone 

 currant trees, but no lîasp nor Strawberrie shrubs. "We pitched on the 

 edge of the barren ground; saw several Buffalo feeding; killed several 

 with a Gun & Bow, &c. I saw two Snakes this day each about a yard 

 long, quite harmless; The Indians handling them & putting them in 

 their bosoms. Course & distance corrected for nine days past are as fol- 

 lows, Viz. Course South 35° west and Distance 61 miles. 



26. Wednesday. We did not proceed : Hunters killed several 

 Buffalo. This day I took an Observation per noon Altitude. Latitude 

 52° 37" North. 



27. Thursday. We did not proceed: A smoke seen the way we 

 intended going; As they are uncertain whether it is made by Friends 

 or Foes, Some Young men are going off to-morrow to reconnoitre. I 

 have given a small present of Tobacco to be smoked if they are friends. 



28. Friday. Travelled 12 miles W.b.S. Country rather leveller 

 than before; very short grass, with plenty of Wild wormwood; Many 

 Marmot ^ holes, the Indians killed several ; & esteem tliem good eating ; 

 plenty of Buffalo . in sight on all sides ; Males and Females in separate 

 herds; which the Natives inform me they always are, except in the cov- 

 ering season. No wood until we pitched in a long narrow ledge of small 

 Ipoplar. 



29. Saturday. Travelled 5 miles W.S.W. along the ledge: At two 

 miles off a narrow ridge of high land which bore North about 8 miles 

 distant (A branch of Saskatchewan river runs on this side) named 

 Menachinalishew Hills. They tell me of large lake on the other side, 

 abounding with large Jack-fish named Menawow Sakahegan; near these 

 Hills others, named Sacketagow Hills; where the Asinepoet natives go 

 yearly for Birch-rind to cover their Canoes : There are many large Hills 

 beyond those where the Beaver Indians reside: this high land is the 

 termination of the barren ground that way; the Country beyond being 

 woody, abounding in martins, Waskesew, Moose; & farther on, Beaver. 

 This day I laid by a seventh reserve of toba-cco & Shot of sizes; alsd 

 other goods for Spring use at the building of canoes. 



30. Sunday. We did not proceed : few Buffalo to be seen. 



31. Monday. Travelled 5 miles W.S.W. Came to the other 

 branch of Saskatchewan river- where wo pitched: narrow with abund- 

 ance of Flat Islands, but good water for Canoes, & no Falls. Saw 

 several Buffalo on the other side coming towards us, some Young Men, 

 who went off in the morning, driving them tliis way, by" making several 

 fires of Buffalo dung to windward. 



1 Spermophiles or "ground squirrels." 



2 North Saskatchewan, somewhere about The Elbow. 



