Rocky Mountains, 4,27 



margin of a plain extending far to the north and east. The 

 Saskatchawin running to the east traverses fifteen degrees of 

 longitude, and discharges its waters into lake Winnipec in 

 latitude 53° north. Lake Winnipec is connected by the Severn 

 and Port Nelson rivers, to Hudson''s bay. A water commu- 

 nication interrupted by one portage extends from the Sas- 

 katchawin northwest to the Missinipi or Churchill's river, 

 thence by the lake of the Hills, Slave lake and Mackenzie's 

 river to the north Sea. Near the lake of the Hills, in lati- 

 tude 59*^ Mackenzie found several brine springs. This, 

 though not decisive evidence, perhaps justifies the conclusion 

 that secondary rocks exist in that quarter. A view of the 

 character and direction of the several large rivers which tra- 

 verse the region about Hudson's bay, of their numerous inos- 

 culations, and the number and position of the small lakes 

 which abound in every part of it, affords evidence, that it is 

 an extensive plain little inclined in any direction. We think 

 we may venture to assert, that the secondary formations ex- 

 tend uninterrupted along the base of the Rocky Mountains, 

 as far as to the Saskatchawin, where coal was observed by 

 Mackenzie. What lies beyond is as yet unknown. From this 

 coal formation our boundary must for the present run in a di- 

 rection a little south of east to Lake Superior, whence it may 

 with a few inconsiderable interruptions follow the territorial 

 boundary of the United States until it arrives at the forty-fifth 

 parallel of latitude, thence by the St. Lawrence to Montreal. 

 The slight acquaintance we have with the country north of 

 this line, is perhaps insufficient to justify the conjecture that 

 secondary formations occupy an extensive portion of that 

 country. Is it improbable that formations of secondary rocks 

 extend along the base of the Rocky Mountains through their 

 whole course, and from them spread themselves to the east 

 knowing no limits but the Atlantic Mountains, the shores of 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Northern ocean? We know 

 that rocks of this formation exist about the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence, whence coal, plaisterand sandstone are brought to our 

 markets.* 



This boundary of the great formation of secondary rocks 



*The banks of the river Montmorenci, from the natural steps down- 

 ward to the St. Lawrence, consist of a lime slate placed in tiorizontal strata 

 from the depth of five to twenty-four inches, each connected by fibrous 

 gypsum of a whitish co our. Heriut V,V,. The island of cape r>reton 

 abounds in sandstone, coal and plaister, ib. 431. — Penn.iui's Arct. Zool. 

 p. 508. V. i. 



