290 



Journal of a Voyage through the 



immense plains, or meadows, commencing in a point at 

 about the junction of the River of the Mountain with Mac- 

 kenzie's River, widening as they continue East and South, 

 till they reach the Red River at its confluence with the 

 Assiniboin River, from whence they take a more Southern 

 direction, along the Missisippi towards Mexico. Adjoin- 

 ing to these plains is a broken country, composed of lakes, 

 rocks, and soil. 



From the banks of the rivers running through the plains, 

 there appeared to ooze a saline fluid, concreting into a 

 thin scurf on the grass. Near that part of the Slave River 

 where it first loses the name of Peace River, and along 

 the extreme edge of these plains, are very strong salt 

 springs, which in the summer concrete and crystallize in 

 great quantities. About the Lake Dauphin, on the South- 

 West side of Lake Winipic, are also many salt ponds, but 

 it requires a regular process to form salt from them. 

 Along the West banks of the former is to be seen, at in- 

 tervals, and traced in the line of the direction of the plains, 

 a soft rock of lime-stone, in thin and nearly horizontal 

 strata, particularly on the Beaver, Cedar, Winipic, and 

 Superior Lakes, as also in the beds of the rivers crossing 

 that line. It is also remarkable that, at the narrowest part 

 of Lake Winipic, where it is not more than two miles in 

 breadth, the West side is faced with rocks of this stone 

 thirty feet perpendicular ; while, on the East side, the 

 rocks are more elevated, and of a dark-grey granite. 



The latter is to be found throughout the whole extent 

 North of this country, to the coast of Hudson's Bay, and 

 as I have been informed, along that coast, onwards to the 

 coast of Labrador; and it may be further observed, that 

 between these extensive ranges of granite and lime-stone 

 are found all the great lakes of this country. 



There is another very large district which must not be 

 forgotten ; and behind all the others in situation as well as 

 in soil, produce, and climate. ■ This comprehends the 

 tract called the Barren Grounds, which is to the North of 

 a line drawn from Churchill, along the North border of 

 the Rein-Deer Lake, to the North of the Lake of the 

 Hills and Slave Lake, and along the North side of the lat- 

 ter to the rocky mountains, which terminate in the North 

 Sea, latitude 70. North, and longitude 135. West; in the 

 whole extent of which no trees are visible, except a few 

 Stinted ones, scattered along its rivers, and with scarce 



