74 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



banks of poplars and pines. This river abounds with wildfowl, and the 

 Northern Diver charmed us with his deep mellow melancholy voice in the 

 evenings. Gained ninety-three miles. 



On the 6th we had only proceeded three miles when we were detained 

 by the ice, and here we found Mr. George McDougall. Little progress 

 was made this day on account of a portage that is, the canoes were 

 carried over a considerable distance to the main channel, which was 

 clear, when we proceeded rapidly and arrived at Assiniboine, 184 miles 

 from Jasper House. The next day we started for Lesser Slave Lake in 

 hope of finding Mr. John Stuart, as this place did not afford much food. 



On arriving here with Mr. Stuart, who treated me with the greatest 

 kindness on every occasion, I travelled partly with the brigade and latterly 

 alone with one guide, on foot, to Fort Edmonton on the Saskatchewan 

 River, where I arrived on Monday the 21st. I found here my small 

 chest of seeds well attended to, through the kindness of Mr. Rowand. 

 On the plains I killed several curlews, and in the woods a number, 

 both male and female, of Tetrao phasianettus, the Pin-tailed Grouse of 

 Edwards, and abundance of T. canadensis. 



May 2lst to 31st. Around Edmonton the country is Woodless and 

 uninteresting. Embarked in Mr. Stuart's boat, in company with others, 

 to Fort Carlton House. Our mode of travelling gave me little time to 

 botanise ; the only times were the short stay made to breakfast, the 

 dusk of the evening before camping, and the most when a delay was 

 made for the purpose of hunting buffalo and red deer. 



The scenery in this river in some places is varied and highly picturesque, 

 particularly near the Red Deer and Eagle Hills. The soil is dry and light, 

 but not unfertile ; a rich herbage and belts and clumps of wood interspersed 

 over it give it a romantic, beautiful appearance. Near to these parts 

 many buffalo were killed, a few red deer and antelope of the plain. This 

 animal has so much curiosity about him that he will approach within 

 100 yards, particularly if the hunter has any of his clothing red, which 

 seems to attract them. The buffalo is easily approached by a skilful 

 hunter and readily destroyed. 



Among a variety of the plants not before in my herbarium were 

 Astragalus pectinatus, A. Drummondii, Phlox Hoodii, Thermopsis 

 rhombifolia, Hedysarum Mackenzii, Astragalus succulentus, 1 A. caryocarpus, 

 and seven species of Salix. On one of the hunting excursions Mr. F. 

 McDonald was dreadfully lacerated by a wounded buffalo bull in the back 

 part of the left thigh, had some ribs broken, his left wrist dislocated, and 

 was otherwise severely bruised. These animals have a disposition not to 

 destroy life at once, but delight to torture. On first striking the object 

 of their revenge, if he is stunned or feigns to be dead there is some chance 

 of his escape ; the animal in the meantime will lie down beside his victim, 

 keeping a steadfast eye on him, and the moment there is the least motion 

 up he gets and gives another blow. Poor Mr. McDonald was so placed 

 for two and a half hours, bleeding and at the point of death, and that under 

 cloud of night, which gave us scarcely any opportunity of rescuing, for the 

 1 Astragalus caryocarpus, S. Wats. Bibl. Ind. N. Am, Bot. p. 192. 



