THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 255 



longitudinally at top, along the ridge, so as to cover 

 up the ends of the troughs of both sides of the roof 

 where they meet above. 



During the month of June, and half the month of 

 July, the work on the road went on unremittingly, 

 " corduroying " being alone attempted; ditches were 

 made at points only where they were essential to pre- 

 vent flooding. As few of our readers have ever seen 

 a corduroy road may none of them ever have to 

 drive over one ! a few lines describing its construc- 

 tion may not be out of place. The course to be fol- 

 lowed through the forest having been marked out by 

 " blazing " a line of trees, the required breadth of 

 road is cleared of timber and all serious obstructions, 

 and partially levelled. Logs of from six to nine 

 inches in diameter are then cut ten feet long, and 

 laid close together side by side, small branches and 

 sand or earth being strewn over them to fill up 

 the unavoidable interstices. Such was the rough 

 method pursued by us; but in Canada more care- 

 ful labour is bestowed upon roads of this descrip- 

 tion when they are intended for more permanent 

 use. 



Before leaving Prince Arthur's Landing, a depu- 

 tation of Indians from the neighbourhood of Fort 

 Francis arrived to inquire what we were doing, and 

 what were to be our intended movements. The 

 party consisted of three men, two boys, and a squaw. 

 Few of us had ever before seen the pure heathen 



