60 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



were swampy, but not considered impassable even in their 

 present condition, the depth of black mould over clay 

 being from six to eighteen inches. From the second mile 

 post to the seventh the country is well adapted for a road, 

 consisting of a sandy ridge clothed with Banksian pine 

 (Cypres). The remaining distance, about one mile and 

 three-quarters, is a gradual descent to the Savanne Eiver. 



The banks of this river are altogether alluvial, and di- 

 minish gradually from ten feet in altitude, near its source, 

 to the level of Milles Lacs, at its entrance into that exten- 

 sive and beautiful sheet of water. The immediate banks 

 of Savanne Eiver are clothed with alder, willow, and dog- 

 wood ; behind these are seen tamarack, pine, spruce, and 

 aspen. Near its mouth much marshy land prevails, and 

 at its confluence with Milles Lacs it is characterised 

 by a large expanse of rushes and other water plants com- 

 mon in such situations. 



While descending this tortuous stream we were sur- 

 prised and delighted at hearing the exclamation, "canoes ! 

 canoes ! " from the lips of our keen-eyed voyageurs, and 

 soon, sweeping round a distant bend, we observed a north 

 canoe rapidly approaching. It contained Mr. Bell, an 

 officer in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, who 

 had started from his post on the Mackenzie Eiver in May 

 of this year, and was on his journey to Montreal, where 

 he proposed to spend two years of furlough. Mr. Bell 

 was accompanied by his daughter, a child of about twelve 

 years, who had journeyed for three months with her 

 father through the trackless wilderness separating Mac- 

 kenzie's Eiver from Savanne Eiver. Such early experi- 

 ence of life in the wilderness it is the lot of few to suffer or 

 enjoy. 



Milles Lacs was described by the Indians as extending 

 in a direction due west much farther than was visible from 



