206 PRAIRIE. 



marriage, on the Huron lands. Returning again to Amherst 

 burgh, I rode down the shore of Lake Erie, after dinner, to 



Mr s, where I arrived about dusk. There was no 



stable for my pony, and it was turned into a field to shift for 

 itself. Mr - - was unfortunately from home, and not 



expected for some days. I found this old settler, who had 

 been born in the country, living pretty much in the style of 

 those who had recently set themselves down, and I partook of 

 homely fare, and slept on the floor. Here I met with a 

 military gentleman of intelligence, whose name is connected 

 with a beautiful island on Lake Simcoe, and who was in 

 search of a desirable lot of land to fix on, to which he was 

 entitled by his services. He expressed a wish to have my 

 assistance in the selection, and offered such terms, that nothing* 

 but want of time, and the advanced period of the season, pre 

 vented my accepting. 



Next morning I rose by daybreak, and caught my pony, 

 on which I rode to the hotel at the shipping place of Col- 

 borne iron works, kept by Mr Faux, from whom I hired a 

 horse, to save my pony, for returning to Amherstburgh in the 

 afternoon. I rode on Mr Faux s horse to a prairie some 

 miles to the east of the iron works, which I had heard spoken 

 of in high terms, and which I observed at some distance a 

 month before. This prairie was understood to be for sale, 

 and I called on the proprietor, who was a kind, well-informed 

 old gentleman, showing me personally over the land, and re 

 gretting my inability to dine with him. 



I found the prairie in question to consist of peat earth, 

 about a foot in thickness, on a wet sandy subsoil, intermingled 

 with marl, which I was able to distinguish by the aid of a 

 spade, and test by vinegar. It was of small size, very pic 

 turesque, and not likely to repay the expense of draining. 



I again mounted the pony at Mr Faux s hotel, and reached 

 Amherstburgh in the evening, having examined four farms 

 that were for sale in course of my excursion. Time was now 

 pressing me ; and being anxious to see an individual in Sand 

 wich, and a farm in the neighbourhood, I engaged Mr Obrion 

 to take me early in the morning to Sandwich in a cart. 



I called Mr Obrion out of bed some time after the hour he 



