292 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



other thing safe. The roots, both dry and those hid in the wood, in good 

 condition. 



Sunday, 19tA.— After having everything packed up by ten a.m. embarked 

 in Mr. Bird's boat and descended the river. Camped twenty-five miles 

 below ; country low, swampy ; trees small— Pww Banksiana, P. Lanx,'- 

 Betula, Populus ; found nothing different from what I had seen before. In 

 the evening at my usual work changing and drying papers. 



Monday, 20«A.— Started at four a.m. and went along Black Water 

 creek, a narrow natural canal, both sides low swampy ground with low 

 willows. Took breakfast on a small rock on the left-hand side at ten. At 

 midday rainy. Met Mr. Evans, of Eed River, from Hudson's Bay. Arrived 

 at the Painted Stone portage at dusk and passed over to White Water 

 creek after dark. Evening fine. Aurora borealis but faintly seen. 



Tuesday, 21st. — ^Dull and cloudy. Started a little before day. Passed 

 through a small lake and creek until we arrived at White Fall portage at 

 ten. Took breakfast, and while the men were carrying their property and 

 dragging the boat over, put in order my plants ; picked up one of the 

 Umbelliferae [sic] (perhaps Aralia), Gentiana, Parnassia caroliniana, and 

 Eydrocharis. Lost overboard a few plants laid in on the upper part of 

 Lake Winnipeg. The White Fall is a small cataract with high rocks on 

 one side adorned by timber of low growth, insignificant, but at the same 

 time worth goiag a few yards to see. At four left and passed the upper 

 or small Hill Gate, where the boat was lightened previous to running the 

 rapid. Navigation intricate. Coimtry the same as before. Camped on 

 some rocks a mile below. Evening fine with a heavy dew. 



Wednesday, 22nd. — Started at daylight ; at seven came to Hill Gate, 

 a rocky rapid narrow part of the river where considerable time was lost 

 lowering the boat with the line. Timber gradually becomes smaller as we 

 approach the coast. Contiaued our route through a chain of small lakes 

 with low marshy and overflowed banks. Shortly after noon entered 

 Oxford Lake, a small narrow but beautiful sheet of water with bold rocky 

 banks and numerous islands. Camped at dusk on one, having had a fine 

 day's joTimey. 



Thursday, 2ird. — Thunder and lightning during the night. As usual 

 made an early start and reached Oxford House at ten, where we took 

 breakfast. Received a letter from Mr. Colin Robertson, one of the resident 

 partners of the Company, regarding a few bird-skins he left for me at York. 

 Certainly much obliged, having never seen him nor had any correspon- 

 dence. Wrote him a note of thanks. Proceeded at eleven and passed some 

 very bad rapids, and launched the boat at Trout Fall portage where 

 the remainder of the day was spent repairing the boat. Laid in a few 

 plants. 



Friday, 24<A.— On leaving Trout Fall we found the boat still made 

 water, but as the wind was favourable for passing through Knee Lake no 

 time was lost. Went prosperously on and breakfasted on Knee near ' Tea 

 Islands,' so named from Ledum palustre being abundant on them. The 

 scenery of this, like Oxford Lake, is fine also, with numerous islands. 

 * ? Larix occidentaiis. Mast, in Joum. R. Hort. Soo. xiv. p. 218. 



