SOURCE OF ST. PETER's RIVER. 71 



mouth, does not exceed fifty yards, yet it is an important 

 river on account of its length. We were informed that it 

 was at least five hundred miles long ; and it was given in 

 evidence, during one of the numerous law suits arising out 

 of the discussion between the two companies, that the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's fort on the Riviere qui Appelle, 

 (a tributary of the Assiniboin,) was distant four hundred 

 miles from Fort Douglas. A little above the fort, the river 

 is said to expand considerably. The name of this stream 

 has of late been written Ossiniboin, but we believe the old 

 spelling agrees better with the Chippewa etymology of 

 the term, Assin, stone. As the district of land, ceded to the 

 late Lord Selkirk by the Hudson's Bay Company, has re- 

 ceived the official name of Ossiniboia, it is probable that 

 this new orthography will prevail. The extent of this ter- 

 ritory, as stated in Governor Macdonnell's proclamation, 

 will be seen in Major Long's topographical report. (Chap- 

 ter 13.) The United States' boundary line will, of course, 

 cut ofi" much of this province ; still it will leave it nearly 

 as large as the State of Georgia. 



The prospectus of this colony, as published by the late 

 Lord Selkirk, has been censured very harshly by many, 

 who have taxed him with wilful misrepresentations, in- 

 tended to mislead those whom he wished to enlist as co- 

 lonists. This charge does not appear to us to be just. 

 His prospectus presents the description of a really fine 

 country, expressed in those terms of warm commendation 

 which we would naturally expect from a mind of a san- 

 guine and generous disposition, such as the whole course 

 of his public and private life indicates that of the dis- 

 tinguished founder of this colony to have been. The 

 great exertions and sacrifices, which he made in behalf of 

 the settler?, prove that he was sincere and ardent in the 



