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CHAP. VI 



UED RIVER SETTLEMENTS. 



The Red River of the North.— Its Tributaries.— The Red Fork.— The Red 

 River within British Territory. — Its physical Features. — Objects seen on 

 ascending* the River. — Section of the River and Prairie. — Objects on 

 the Banks. — The Settlement. — The King's Road. — Character of the 

 Country north of Fort Garry. — Aspect of the Prairies. — Beauty of the 

 Prairies. — The Assinniboine River. — Effect of Evaporation on the Volume 

 of Water in the Assinniboine. — Description of the Assinniboine. — Prairie 

 Portage. — Mud and Sand Flats in the River. — Timber. — John Spence. 

 — Lignite reported to exist on the Assinniboine. — Sioux.— Indian Corn. 

 — The Big Ridge. — An Overturn. — The Prairies of the Assinniboine. — 

 Mr. Lane. — Mr. George Flett. — Mr. Gowler. — Mr. Gowler's Farm.— His 

 Opinions respecting the Prairies on the Assinniboine. — Melons. — Old 

 Associations. — Independence. — Mr. Gowler's Success. — The Nor'wester. 

 — A Newspaper published at Red River Settlements. 



The Eed Eiver of the North rises in Ottertail Lake, 

 State of Minnesota.* The north-east end of Ottertail Lake 

 is in latitude 46° 24' 1", and the general course of the river 

 is westerly, through an attractive undulating country, UDtil 

 it makes its great bend to the north, in latitude 46° 9". 

 It then meanders through a boundless prairie, which gra- 

 dually declines in elevation until it forms a vast level 

 plain, elevated above the water of the river only about 

 one and a half to two feet, at its ordinary stage in June. 

 The distance of this great bend is 110 miles from Otter- 

 tail Lake, and the vast low prairie through which the 

 river subsequently flows, in an exceedingly tortuous 



* The description of that part of Red River which lies within the ter- 

 ritory of the United States is abbreviated from Dr. D. I). Owen's account 

 in his geological survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. 



