The Klutz Overland Hudson's Bay Expedition. 337 



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ance of a small village; the buildings of the post proper are 

 stockaded. 



The ridge, or Pas Mountain, which is covered with spruce, 

 tamarac and poplar, runs along the east bank of Pasquia River 

 for about thirty-five miles, where there is a break of about four 

 miles of wet, low land. Then it continues to the elevation called the 

 Pasquia Mountains. The character of the country is such that one 

 can travel in a canoe from The Pas to Cumberland House through 

 swamps, lakes, channels, etc., without entering the Saskatchewan 

 at all. 



The Indians of The Pas, through the liberality of the Government, 

 maintain quite a herd of cattle. They are supplied with plenty of 

 milk and butter, and considerable beef. There is but little farming 

 land in the vicinity owing to the low, swampy character of the country. 

 The river is very wide, its shores or banks but slightly defined, and 

 at high water the whole district is an immense lake. In 1878 the 

 water was so high that no landing-place could be found between 

 Cumberland House and The Pas. For seven years previous there 

 was high water each year just the same. The whole country 

 between the Saskatchewan, Sepenock Channel, Carrot River, Pasquia 

 River, and Cedar Lake, is all lake or marsh. It is also similar to 

 the north of the Saskatchewan. Forty years ago a lad could throw 

 a stone across the river at The Pas, now it is 900 feet wide. 



The Indian settlement at The Pas is quite large, and most of 

 their huts are well built. There are also a few half-breeds. Birch 

 bark is plentifully supplied from the birch trees of the Pas hills, and 

 the Indians construct many canoes from it. They are quite indus- 

 trious, prosperous, and altogether a happy lot. 



As I have said, the swampy country continues to Cedar Lake ; 

 for most of the distance the banks of the river are lost, and there 

 are many channels. As you approach Chemahawin, an Indian 

 village, the banks of the river can be distinguished only by the grass 

 and reeds. There are no woods, with the exception of clumps of 

 poplar now and then along the shores. About nineteen miles below 

 The Pas a large channel, known as the Moose Lake River, leaves the 

 Saskatchewan to the north. It is at present used instead of the 



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