SOURCE OF ST. PETER S RIVER. 131 



wards of two-thirds of its circumference in the space of 

 half a mile. The scene was such as a painter might have 

 selected to depict a perfect calm of nature ; the great depth 

 of the stream, as well as its narrow bed and crooked channel, 

 contribute to impart to it a darker hue than is usually observed 

 in water ; and its reflection of the trees and other objects on 

 its banks exceeded in intensity all that we had as yet seen ; 

 the beautiful pembina bushes, loaded with their neat 

 little crimson berry, were reflected as though by a mirror ; 

 it was about sunset when we ascended this short but highly 

 romantic stream. With the exception of the few indivi- 

 duals that composed our party, not an animated being was 

 in sight ; it really seemed as if we had passed beyond the 

 limits of the inhabited world. 



Beyond this, we found a small lake, at the upper end of 

 which we encamped ; the air was perfumed by the sweet- 

 scented grass, (Holcus odoratus,) which we found here in 

 greater abundance than elsewhere, it J:iad already grown 

 into seed, of which we collected some. At this place, 

 the cold, which had been gradually increasing, became 

 very unpleasant; the dews were still heavy, and on the 

 morning of the 7th we found ice about our encampment. 

 The Portage des Fran^ais which we then passed, was a 

 very difficult one ; it was about two miles and a quarter 

 long, and was so swampy that it offered great difficulties. 

 Towards the summit level, the portages become longer and 

 more difficult. At the time when the North-west Com- 

 pany carried on an extensive trade by this route, the por- 

 tages were kept in good repair ; the bushes being cut off", 

 the paths well traced, and causeways erected wherever the 

 ground was swampy. The case is otherwise at present; 

 the little travelling along this route has occasioned them 

 to be neglected, and they are in a worse state than if they 



