80 EXPEDITION TO THE 



ern was about two hundred yards wide. This was the 

 second island which we had observed on Red river from 

 its head to this place ; the first island was but a short dis- 

 tance above. Below this place there are several other 

 islands ; they are for the most part small and thickly over- 

 grown with aspen. Among the remarkable features of 

 Red river may be enumerated its total want of islands, ex- 

 cept near its mouth, and the circumstance that it has no 

 bottom or valley properly speaking ; it runs in a mere 

 trench in the prairie. Towards the mouth of the river the 

 country becomes an impenetrable swamp. 



Having already enumerated the tributaries of Red river 

 south of the 49th degree, we shall briefly note those which 

 occur between Pembina and the mouth of the river. These 

 consist, on the right bank, of the Reed-grass and Muskrat 

 rivers ; on the left, of Swampy, Plumb, Gratiats, Saline, 

 Muddy, Assiniboin and Death rivers. 



Reed-grass river is by the Chippowas termed Pekwiomisk j 

 at its mouth it is twenty yards wide ; it rises near the Lake 

 of the Woods, and, as we were told, within two leagues of it. 

 The interval which divides its source from the lake being 

 marshy, the canoes are dragged through it. Desmarais in- 

 formed us that he would return by that route, and that he 

 could walk in three days from its source to its mouth. 



The WasAslikwatape, or Muskrat river is twelve yards 

 wide at its mouth. 



Swampy or Petopek river is a mere brook ; so is the 

 Pekdsun, or Plumb river, both of which were dry at the 

 time we saw them. Below these a small rivulet receives 

 the name of Kaomen&k&she, (Gratiats of the French.) 



Saline we have already stated was a dry brook. The 

 Wenagomo, or Muddy river, is also inconsiderable. The 

 Assiniboin has been described. It receives, as we were toldj 



