DOWN THE PEACE RIVEE. 93 



and an exquisite array of gold and scarlet clouds in the east, 

 which dyed the whole river a delicate red, we floated down 

 to the hamlet of Vermilion. The place proved to be a rather 

 extensive settlement, with yellow wheat-fields and much 

 cattle, for it is a fine hay country. The pioneer Canadians 

 at Vermilion were the Lawrence family, which had been 

 settled there for over twenty years. They were originally 

 residents of Shefford County, Eastern Townships, and set out 

 from Montreal for Peace Eiver in April, 1879, making the 

 journey to Vermilion, by way of Port Carlton, Isle a la Crosse 

 and Port McMurray, in four months and some ten days. The 

 elder Mr. Lawrence had been engaged under Bishop Bompas 

 to conduct a mission school at Chipewyan, but after a time 

 removed to Vermilion, where he organized another school, 

 which he conducted until 1891. He then resigned, and began 

 farming on his own account, and, by and by,^ with great pains 

 and expense, brought in a flour mill, whose operation stimu- 

 lated settlement, and speedily reduced the price of flour from 

 ^25 to $8 a sack. Unfortunately, this useful mill was burnt 

 in April preceding our visit. The yield of grain, moreover, 

 most of it wheat, was estimated at 10,000 bushels, and the 

 burning of the mill was therefore not only a great loss to 

 Mr. Lawrence, but a severe blow to the place. The popula- 

 tion interested in farming was estimated at about three him- 

 •dred souls, thtis forming the nucleus of a very promising 

 •settlement, now, of course, at its wits' end for gristing. Ver- 

 milion seemed to be a very favourable supply point in 

 starting other settlements, being in touch by water with Loon 

 Eiver, Hay Eiver, and other points east and north, where 

 there is abundance of excellent land. Por the present, and 

 pending railway development, it was plain that the great 

 and pressing requirement of the region was a good waggon- 

 road by way of Wahpooskow to Athabasca Landing, a 

 ■distance of three hundred miles, thus avoiding the dangerous 

 rapids of the Athabasca, or the long detour by way of Lesser 

 Slave Lake, and making communication easy in winter time. 



