NORTHERN OCEAN 415 



found on the banks of Churchill River, at some distance from 

 the sea. But in the interior parts of the country they are 

 frequently found in such vast quantities, that at a distance 

 they make the spots they grow on appear perfectly red. In 

 the interior parts of Hudson's Bay they are as large as any I 

 ever remember to have seen, and when ripe, have a most 

 delightful bloom ; but at that season there is scarcely one 

 in ten which has not a worm in it ; and they frequently act as 

 a strong purgative. 



With respect to the smaller productions of the vegetable 

 world, I am obliged to be in a great measure silent, as 

 the nature of my various occupations during my residence 

 in this country gave me little leisure, and being unacquainted 

 with botany, I viewed with inattention things that were not of 

 immediate use : the few which follow are all that particularly 

 engaged my attention. 



The WiSH-A-CA-PuccA,^ which grows in most parts of wish 

 this country, is said by some Authors to have great medical P" 

 virtues, applied, either inwardly as an alterative, or out- 

 wardly dried and pulverised, to old sores and gangrenes. 

 The truth, of this I much doubt, and could [456] never 

 think it had the least medical quality. It is, however, much 

 used by the lower class of the Company's servants as tea ; 

 and by some is thought very pleasant. But the flower is 

 by far the most delicate, and if gathered at a proper time, and 

 carefully dried in the shade, will retain its flavour for many 

 years, and make a far more pleasant beverage than the leaves. 

 There are several species of this plant, of which some of 

 the leaves are nearly as large as that of the Creeping Willow, 

 while others are as small and narrow as that of the Rosemary, 



[^ Heame refers here to the two species of Ledicm. L. grcBuIandicum CEder 

 is the broad-leaved sort, generally distributed through the wooded country, 

 and extending a little into the Barren Grounds. L. palustre Linn, is a smaller 

 narrow-leaved species, which overlaps the range of the larger sort, and extends 

 much farther north.] 



a-ca- 



cca. 



