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Harmon's journal. 147 



arate. The former go up the Sisiscatchwin Riv- 

 er, and the latter up the English River. The 

 latter, is so called, in honour of Mr. Joseph Fro- 

 bisher, an Englishman, who was the first trader 

 that ever went into that part of the country.— 

 On the 30th ultimo, we crossed Lac Bourbon, 

 which is about forty miles long, on which the 

 North West Company had a fort, formerly ; but 

 it was abandoned, in 1802. There are few 

 mountains or hills to be seen, between this place 

 and Lake Winipick. The country has a pretty 

 heavy growth of timber, and the soil is rich, fn 

 the lakes and rivers of this region, excellent fish 

 are taken, such as sturgeon, white-fish, cat-fisji, 

 pike, pickerel, &c. This country abounds in fowls, 

 among which are swans, bustards, geese, and many 

 kinds of ducks. Moose are found in considerable 

 plenty; there are a few black bears, otters, musk- 

 rats and martins ; and rarely, a beaver is found. 



Saturday, September 21. South Branch Fort. 

 This is about one hundred and twenty miles 

 above the Fork, or the place where this river 

 forms a junction with the North Branch, after 

 which, it assumes the name of Sisiscatchwin River. 

 Both branches take their rise in the Rocky Moun- 

 tain, though at a distance of several hundred 

 miles from each other. The South Branch pass* 

 es through large plains ; but the country through 



