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BED RIVEK EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



another species, generally known as the ash-leaved maple 

 (Negundo fraxinifolium), also furnishing an abundance of 

 juice from which sugar is made as far north as the 

 Saskatchewan. Near to Sugar Point is an Indian school, 

 in connection with the Indian Mission below, situated 

 north of the line which divides the parish of St. Peter 

 from that of St. Andrew, and marking the northern limits 

 of the Eed Eiver Settlement. The banks on both sides 

 are very heavily timbered close to the river; but be- 

 tween this place and the Stone Fort there are very few 

 farmhouses. The general direction of the river from Sugar 

 Point to Port Garry, is a few degrees to the west of south. 

 In an air line the distance is twenty miles ; by the road on 

 the left or west bank twenty-one, and by the river itself 

 twenty-three and a half miles. The scenery and objects 

 which meet the eye in ascending the river between the 

 Lower Port and 49th parallel are uniform, but singular 

 and interesting. 



In order to arrive at a true conception of its physical 

 features, it is merely necessary to imagine a river from 

 200 to 350 feet broad, with a moderately rapid current, 

 having in the course of ages excavated a winding trench 

 or cut to the depth of from thirty to forty feet in tenacious 

 clay, through a nearly level country for a distance exceed- 

 ing 100 miles, and the general physical aspect of Eed 

 Eiver, within British territory, is reproduced. Here and 

 there local diversities occur which give some appearance 

 of variety. Such are noticed at the Grand Eapids, where 

 the even flow is broken and disturbed by a ledge of 

 limestone, which may occasion a fall of six feet within 

 a mile. A lower terrace has here and there been exca- 

 vated perhaps ten feet below the general level of the 

 prairie banks. Occasionally sand, mud, and gravel bars 

 are formed at the numerous sharp turns in the general 



