32 Thirty Years 
2 
lunar observations, The wind having subsided, we 
left our resting-place the following morning, crossed 
she remainder of the lake, and, in the afternoon, ar- 
‘ived at Muddy Lake, which is very appropriatels 
1amed, as it consists merely of a few channels, wind- 
ing amongst extensive mud banks, which are overflow- 
xd during the spring floods. We landed at an Indian 
tent, which contained two numerous families, amount- 
ing to thirty souls, These poor creatures were badly 
clothed, and reduced to a miserable condition by the 
ravages of the whooping-congh and measles. At the 
time of our arrival they were busy in preparing a 
eweating-house for the sick. This is a remedy, which 
they consider, with the addition of singing and drum- 
ming, to be the grand specific for all diseases. Our 
companions having obtained some geese, in exchange 
for rum and tobacco, we proceeded oa few more miles 
and encamped on Devil’s Drum Island, having come, 
during the day, twenty miles and a half. A second- 
party of Indians were encamped on an adjoining 
island, a situation chosen for the purpose of killing 
geese and ducks, 
On the 16th we proceeded eighteen miles up the 
Saskatchawan. Its banks are low, covered with wil- 
-ows, and lined with drift timber. The surrounding 
vountry is swampy, and intersected by the numerous 
arms of the river. After passing for twenty or thirty 
