548 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 
this hitherto entirely unknown district, which explorations were continued by 
Gaudet and Wells during the winter of 1857-1858. 
The whole country between the Red River and Lake of the Woods appeared 
perfectly level, although it actually descends toward the east nearly 400 feet. 
Dry prairies change alternately with wooded districts and extensive swamps, the 
latter being particularly frequent toward the north, The establishment of a road 
through this district seemed to them an utter impossibility. 
Hind went up the Assiniboine River, explored the Great and Little Rat river, 
examined the valley of the Red River up to Pembina, and followed the Reed 
Grass or Roseau river up to a great swamp, which separated this stream from a 
lake of the same name. Unfortunately Hind could not survey this river up to its 
sources, but all the Indians who lived there agreed that a swamp of 9 miles in 
extent existed between Roseau lake and Lake of the Woods. This swamp sends 
ithe Reed river, 30 miles long, to the latter lake, and another little rapid river. 
about 40 or 50 miles long, to lake Roseau. From the Great Muskeg morass goes 
a little river westward into an extensive swamp, from which the Rat river 
issues. 
Gladman was relieved from his post as chief in April, 1858, and Napier was 
also recalled about this time. But Hind went the same spring again with 
Dickinson, Fleming and Hine on another expedition known as the “ Assiniboine 
-and Saskatchewan expedition.” Their object was to explore the region west of 
the Red River and Lake Winnipeg up to the Saskatchewan river. Before they 
-arrived at Fort Garry, Dawson, Wells and Gaudet had already made some new 
-surveys, around the Red River, Lake Winnipeg, and the lower Assiniboine, and 
had just left for the lake district. This latter party went by way of Lake 
‘Manitobah and Lake Winnipegosis, over Mossy Portage toward Cedar or Bourbon 
‘lake to the grand rapids of the Saskatchewan river. At Mossy Portage they 
separated ; Wells went over Lake Winnipegosis, Lake Dauphin, Like Manitobah, 
‘the Little Saskatchewan river, which he found to be 8 to 12 feet deep, 250 yards 
«wide, free from rapids and throughout adapted for steam navigation, thence over 
‘Lake Winnipeg to the Red River. The rest of the party followed Swan river to 
\Fort Pelly, and thence went down the Assiniboine river. 
.Dawson considers the whole alluvial plain east of the Pasquia and Poreupine 
hills and Dauphin mountains, where the large lakes are situated, well adapted for 
-gettlements. It is partly prairie land, for the most part, however, thickly wooded. 
“North of Lake Dauphin wood predominates; south of it the country becomes 
»more open, and toward the Assiniboine an apparently endless prairie commences. 
Wheat gives abundant harvests near Lake Manitobah and the Little Saskatchewan 
river, and near the latter even Indian corn may be cultivated. The valley of the 
Swan river is particularly fertile, and climate equals that of the Red River 
district. The Red Deer river district has also a good soil and fine climate, as its 
maple tree forests plainly show. Coal is said to be found in the Poreupine hills 
and the Duck mountain; Dawson himself found samples of lignite near Snow 
giver. The great alluvial valley of the Assiniboine and its branches will, in his 
opinion, hereafter become one of the finest wheat growing districts upon earth. 
