76 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



I became acquainted also with the Kev. J. N. Provenchier, the Roman 

 Catholic Bishop, a gentleman of liberal disposition and highly cultivated 

 mind, who lives only to be useful and to do good. The soil a deep 

 alluvial stratum of brown loam on gravel and limestone is exceedingly 

 fertile, capable of bearing every kind of produce. The settlers live 

 comfortably and are seemingly happy. The crops are liable to be attacked 

 by grasshoppers, but the wheat is exempt from smut and rust. Cattle 

 thrive, as well as pigs and horses ; sheep had not then been introduced. 



During a month's residence I formed a small herbarium of 288 species, 

 many of which were new to me, and I felt truly happy at having devoted 

 a little time to it ; for several plants were added to the flora, and had I 

 stayed with Mr. Drummond or Dr. Richardson on the Saskatchewan these 

 Would have been omitted. I left with Mr. Hamlyn, the surgeon to the 

 colony, had a somewhat tedious passage through the lake, and had the 

 pleasure to arrive at York Factory, Hudson's Bay, where I was kindly 

 received by John George McTavish, Esq., Chief Factor, who had had the 

 kindness to get made for me some clothing, my travelling stock being 

 completely worn out. 



Here my labours ended ; and I may be allowed to state, when the 

 natural difficulties of passing through a new country are taken into view, 

 the disposition of the native tribes in fact, the varied insufferable incon- 

 veniences that daily present themselves I have great reason to look on 

 myself as highly favoured. All that my feeble exertions may have done 

 only stimulated us to future exertion. The whole of my botanical collec- 

 tion, save a few that came intimately within the Society's Minute, were, 

 agreeably with my anxious wishes, given for publication in the forth- 

 coming American Flora from the pen of Dr. Hooker. 1 



I sailed from Hudson's Bay on September 15th and arrived at 

 Portsmouth on October llth, having enjoyed a most gratifying trip. 



D. D. 



1 The title-page of ' the forthcoming ' work referred to here is as follows : 



'Mora Boreali-Americana ; or, the Botany of the Northern Parts of 

 British America : compiled principally from the Plants collected by Dr. 

 RICHABDSON and Mr. DBUMMOND on the late northern expeditions, under 

 command of Captain Sir JOHN FRANKLIN, R.N., to which are added, (by 

 permission of the Horticultural Society of London,) those of Mr. DOUGLAS, 

 from North- West America; and of other Naturalists.' By WILLIAM 

 JACKSON HOOKEB, London [1829] 1840. 2 vols. |4to. ED. 



