BRANTFORD RAISING BEE. 159 



of excellent loam. The wood was chiefly oak, with here and 

 there a few pines, which on the west side seemed to prevail to 

 the water s edge. There is little agriculture on this part of 

 the Reserve of any kind. At the Indian s dwelling, where we 

 obtained the drink of water, there was a good crop of wheat, 

 well stacked, a waggon for carrying home the crop, and a 

 good barn. This day I commenced a collection of seeds, by 

 selecting six species of wheat, three white chaffed varieties 

 having red-skinned grain, and three red chaffed varieties having 

 very white grain. 



While at Brantford, we observed a raising bee, that is, rai 

 sing the frame of a house by a collection of people. The frame 

 had been constructed, and the parts fitted before -hand, and the 

 company had only to put them together. The process was 

 expeditiously effected, the largest timbers being hoisted to their 

 places by long sharp-pointed poles. The power of brute-force 

 was displayed ; yet three men, with the aid of mechanical 

 power, might have accomplished the labour of thirty. 



Brantford owes its name to the celebrated Mohawk Indian 

 chief, Brant, and is situated on a high bank on the east side 

 of the Grand River. It is a growing place, containing six 

 hundred souls. There is a new bridge erecting over the 

 river, forming the great thoroughfare to the London and 

 Western districts ; and it is said to be in contemplation to 

 render the river navigable to this point. On the opposite 

 side of the river, there is an extensive rich-looking flat country, 

 a part of which is occupied by Europeans on lease from the 

 Indians. 



Having experienced the inconvenience of walking in warm 

 weather, we debated whether to pursue the remainder of our 

 journey on horseback or in a waggon, and determined on the 

 latter, which was engaged at S3 per day, the driver finding 

 himself and horses. 



Next morning Mr W , Captain A , my friend, and 



I, left Brantford early in the morning, on our way to Gait, 

 and stopped to breakfast with a Mr C , a successful far 

 mer, residing within seven miles of Brantford. The farm 

 consists of what is called oak openings or plains ; and, on exa 

 mination, I found the soil consisting partly of clay and partly 



