340 Capt. Blakiston’s Explorations in the Rocky Mountains. 
tion, which lay more than three hundred miles to the north, and as 
will be seen on the plan, passed several creeks, and over a coun- 
try mostly prairie. I remained at the Forks of Belly River on 
Sunday the 12th. From this place I visited a camp of forty-five 
tents of Blackfoot Indians, accompanied by one of my men, and 
“‘ James,” the Cree Indian. I was received with the usual hos- 
pitality, and having expressed a desire to change a horse or two, 
I had no trouble the following morning in exchanging one an 
buying another for ammunition, tobacco, blankets, old coat, &c. 
This tribe has the credit of being dangerous, but from what I 
have seen of them, I consider them far better behaved than their 
more civilized neighbors, the Crees. I made it a rule never to 
hide from Indians, and, although I had but a small party, to go _ 
to them as soon as I knew of their proximity. I also always 
told them for what reason the British Government had sent the 
expedition to the country; and I never failed to receive manl- 
festations of good will, neither was there one attempt made to 
steal my horses, a practice only too prevalent among the Indians 
of these plains. ' 
same amount of attention to the mapping of it, as I considered 
a knowledge of that portion of the mountains would be of ser 
vice to the International Boundary Commissioners at present e0- 
gaged on the west side. Moreover, I do not consider the Bound- — 
ary Pass so well suited for the passage of a railroad as the Koo — 
tanie Pass. : were 
It will be perhaps noticed that I have said nothing concerning 
the fitness of the Kootanie Pass for a waggon road. reason 
is simply that where a railroad can be constructed, a wagg02 
road can also be made; without considerable expense a road 
