62 Thirty Years 



night, which subsided as the morning opened. One 

 of the sledges had been so much broken yesterday 

 amongst the trees, that we had to divide its cargo 

 among the others. We started after this had been 

 arranged, and finding almost immediately a firm track, 

 we soon arrived at some Indian lodges to which it led. 

 The inhabitants were Crees, belonging to the posts on 

 the Saskatchawan, from whence they had come to hunt 

 beaver. We made but a short stay, and proceeded 

 through a Swamp to Pelican Lake. Our view to the 

 right was bounded by a range of lofty hills, which ex- 

 tended for several miles in a north and south di- 

 rection, which, it may be remarked, has been that of 

 all the hilly land we have passed since quitting the 

 plain. 



Pelican Lake is of an irregular form, about six miles 

 from east to west, and eight from north to south ; it 

 decreases to the breadth of a mile towards the north- 

 ern extremity, and is there terminated by a creek. 

 We went up this creek for a short distance, and then 

 struck into the woods, and encamped among a cluster 

 of the firs, which the Canadians term cypres (pimu 

 inops) ; having come fourteen miles and a half. 



Feb. L6. — Sli.irlly after commencing the journey to- 

 day, we me1 an [ndian and his family who had come 

 from the houses at G-reen Lake; they informed us 

 the track was well beaten the whole way. We, there- 



