INDIAN TRIBES OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY. 239 
sea-coast, describe to them the great ocean, they are not generally disposed to place any 
confidence in their statements. 
The principal river in the Cree country is the Riviere du Parc, which takes its rise from 
springs in the Rocky Mountains, cast of the Missouri, and, running in a northeastern 
direction, empties into Lake Winnipeg. In regard to its length, our informant, who has 
frequently travelled from its mouth to its source, states it to be sixty-seven days’ travel up 
in Mackinaw boats; which, averaging eighteen miles per day, would make its whole navi- 
gable length about twelve hundred miles, and from the head of navigation to its source 
one hundred and fifty miles farther. Small boats are taken up this river at all times, 
when it is free from ice, to within one hundred and fifty miles of its source, where the 
Hudson’s Bay Company have erected a fort, called “ Fort Cassepierre,” at which point goods 
are landed for the trade with the Crees in that vicinity. This is the highest post on the 
river, though there are other trading-houses at different points lower down the stream. The 
middle portion of this river is about three hundred yards in width; at its mouth it is 
nearly a mile wide, and generally from ten to fifteen feet deep, and contains one hundred 
and sixty rapids and falls of various heights; at all of which the goods which are taken 
up, or the packs of furs which pass down, are carried round by portage. On this account, 
all packages are made to weigh ninety-five pounds each. These are transported on the 
backs of voyageurs around the falls, and at large or dangerous rapids the boats are also 
carried, otherwise they are let gently down after having been unloaded. 
Assiniboin River takes its rise on the north side of the Woody Mountains, and after 
running through several lakes, empties into Lake Winnipeg. Its entire length, including 
the lakes, is estimated at four hundred miles. There are no rapids in this river, and it 
is navigable throughout with Mackinaw boats, in which the goods and peltries of the 
Hudson’s Bay Company are carried to and from the different posts along its banks. 
Red River is a branch of the Assiniboin River, emptying into it about forty miles above 
the junction of the latter with Lake Winnipeg. This is called “'The Fork,” and on it is 
established one of the largest forts belonging to the Hudson’s Bay Company. ‘The prin- 
cipal branch of Red River rises in Red Lake; it is from fifty to sixty yards wide, with a 
deep and slow current. ‘The other branch heads in Lake Traverse, and joins the first 
about one hundred miles above the mouth of Pembina River. ‘This is called the “ Plat 
Cote” branch, and is not navigable for boats except during spring freshets, and even then 
it is attended with much danger. 
Pembina River rises in ‘Turtle Mountain, its sources soon forming a lake ; after which 
it passes through four other lakes. It is a long, crooked stream, full of rapids, and is not 
navigable by any craft larger than a bark canoe. It empties into Red River, eighty miles 
Wilh, Natit. =83i . 
