Canadian Expedition to the Red River. 223 
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 settlements. 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 spores? 
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 its climate equals that 
of the Red river district. The Red Deer river district has also a 
Coal is said to be found in the Porcupine hills and the Due 
ugh a narrow and 
