112 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



much time, and altogether impossible if the party had no 

 proper tools with them, and they were probably in a hurry. 

 Moreover, many of the Indian tribes dispose of their dead 

 on platforms erected above the ground, at spots set apart 

 for that purpose, and held sacred. 



During the whole extent of this journey we found the 

 ground to be a hard rock, with a very shallow coating of 

 earth on it. It was covered with moss, and trees were 

 numerous in a succession of woods, with clear and rocky 

 spots between. The trees were mostly conifers, and were 

 of small growth, with here and there a fine clump. As 

 everywhere else in this country, swamps and small lakes 

 were frequently found. 



