1827, JULY. NEAR PIGEON RIVER 277 



Hudson's Bay by a Mr. Ross, wild fowl and other meat being scarce, and as 

 be will not eat fisb I was unable to keep bim. at tbe latter place. Placed 

 tbe wbite-beaded one under tbe care of a woman attacbed to tbe estabbsb- 

 ment, until my return. Left my sundry articles gleaned in my descent of 

 tbe Saskatcbewan River ; and tbe roots or bulbs brougbt from tbe Columbia 

 being stUl fresb and nearly dry I balved, placing tbe one in a well-secreted 

 place in tbe wood, contained in a folded piece of bircb bark, fearing tbe 

 mice may find tbem ; tbe otber in a paper bag, bung up to tbe roof of tbe 

 bouse with some bird-skins. Started at four ; pleasant. Camped at 

 8 P.M., eigbteen miles above tbe estabbsbment. Rain and loud peals of 

 tbunder at dusk and during tbe nigbt. 



Tuesday, 3rd. — Morning cool and calm. Started at a quarter-past 

 tbree a.m. and went on very prosperously, tbere being no swell on tbe lake. 

 Took breakfast on a small rock, wbere an bour was spent, wben we again 

 resumed our route until dusk. Sbores of tbe lake low muddy peat, sandyj 

 gravelly, witb numerous sballow pools or small lakes bebind ; at a few 

 places granite is seen. Tbe wood is small : Pinus alba,^ P. Banksiana, and 

 P. rubra,^ P. halsameafi Populus trepida,* Betula, and several species of 

 Salix. Gatbered two species of Corydalis, one yeUow-flowered, glaucous 

 leaved, found on tbe Assiniboine portage, and one uprigbt-growing strong 

 species witb purple flowers. Laid in specimens of Potentilla and Gra- 

 mineae. Camped on a small rocky island. 



Wednesday, ith. — Loud wind last nigbt wbicb increased so mucb towards 

 midnigbt tbat tbe tent was nearly blown down ; and tbe rain beating in 

 on us, wbile tbe Captain supported tbe poles in tbe inside, tbe Doctor and 

 I went in searcb of large stones to lay on tbe sides, being as I observed 

 camped on a rock and pegs of no use. Before we bad accompbsbed tbis 

 we were well drencbed, and as tbe fire was wasbed out eacb crept under bis 

 blankets until day. In tbe grey of tbe morn it moderated and we pro- 

 ceeded at 5 A.M. and went on for tbe space of four bours, wben a strong 

 bead wind and a beavy surge obliged tbe canoe to take sbelter a second 

 time in a small rocky bay. Tbese stoppages give a few moments for 

 collecting, sbifting, and drying paper. At tbree o'clock tbe wind ceased 

 and tbe lake being calm we resumed, and camped at dark on a small rocky 

 island near Pigeon River. Laid in some Poa, Carex, and Potentilla. 



Thursday, 5<A.— Had a fine camp last nigbt ; preferred sleeping on tbe 

 rock close by tbe fire, wbere tbere was a fanning breeze, tban to be annoyed 

 by mosquitoes. Morning windy, detained until ten o'clock; in tbe 

 interval laid in Phlox linearis {si6\. Obliged to put in a second time, 

 into a small muddy creek surrounded on all sides by water. Gatbered 

 notbing; dried papers at tbe fire. Tbis part of tbe sbore is low and marsby. 



Friday, 6<A.— Ligbt airs of wind and drizzly rain until mid-afternoon. 

 Made a good day's marcb. Camped on a small island ; found Cerastium sp., 

 perennial ; Apocynum sp., perennial ; Silene, annual. For tbe first time 



1 Picea alba. Mast, in Joum. R. Hort. Soc. xiv. p. 221. 



2 ? Picea rubra, Veitoh, Man. Conif., ed. 2, p. 450. 



s Abies ialsamea. Mast, in Joum. R. Hort. Soc. xiv. p. 189. 

 * Populus tremuloides, Sargent, Silva N. Am. xi. p. 158. 



