382 



ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



ceeded in richness, by any part of North America, 

 I think it probable, that as much as one sixth part 

 of the whole of this country, is covered with wa- 

 ter. The great number of large lakes, which are 

 scattered over it, and of noble streams, which pass 

 through it, afford a water communication, in al- 

 most every direction. 



As this country is so extensive, it is natural to 

 suppose, that the climate is various. In all parts 

 it is considerably cold. In latitude 54° or 55° the 

 mercury, for several successive days, in the month 

 of January, is as low as 30 or 32 degrees below 

 zero. There are not, however, more than ten or 

 twelve days, during a winter, that are so severely 

 cold. The summers are sufficiently warm and 

 long, to bring most kinds of grain and vegetables 

 to perfection. Indian corn will never ripen far- 

 ther north, than about latitude 53°. 



The following fact may be interesting to some 

 persons, as perhaps no similar discovery has been 

 made, equally far north. In the summer of 1816 

 there was found, on the margin of a small stream 

 that falls into Peace River, in about the 56th de- 

 gree of north latitude, and the 118th of west lon- 

 gitude, a part of the thigh bone of a Mammoth, 

 which was about eighteen inches in length, and 

 which weighed twenty eight pounds. During that 



