32 Thirty Years 



lunar observations. The wind having subsided, we 

 left our resting-place the following morning, crossed 

 the remainder of the lake, and, in the afternoon, ar- 

 rived at Muddy Lake, which is very appropriately 

 named, as it consists merely of a few channels, wind- 

 ing amongst extensive mud banks, which are overflow- 

 ed during the spring floods. We landed at an Indian 

 tent, which contained two numerous families, amount- 

 ing to thirty souls. These poor creatures were badly 

 clothed, and reduced to a miserable condition by the 

 ravages of the whooping-cough and measles. At the 

 time of our arrival they were busy in preparing a 

 sweating-house for the sick. This is a remedy, which 

 they consider, with the addition of singing and drum- 

 ming, to be the grand specific for all diseases. Our 

 companions having obtained some geese, in exchange 

 for rum and tobacco, we proceeded a few more miles 

 and encamped on Devil's Drum Island, having come, 

 duriug the day, twenty miles and a half. A second 

 party of Indians were encamped on an adjoining 

 island, a situation chosen for the purpose of killing 

 geese and ducks. 



On the 10th we proceeded eighteen miles up the 

 Saskatchawan. Its banks are low, covered with wil- 

 lows, and lined with drift timber. The surrounding 

 country is swampy, and intersected by the numerous 

 arms of the river, After passing for twenty or thirty 



