168 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



dry path towards the Lake of the Woods, as far as the 

 boundary of his hunting grounds. 



" On the morning of the 23rd, I proceeded along the 

 south side of 6 La Kiviere Seine,' or German Creek, which 

 flows into the Eed Eiver a little below its junction with 

 the Assinniboine. There are farmhouses and a good road 

 along it for a distance of five miles, when an Indian track 

 begins, which keeps close to the valley of the creek for 

 eight miles, between it and the marsh. 



".This dry space varies from half a mile to a quarter 

 mile wide, and is crossed by two small sluggish creeks, 

 which, if widened and deepened, would effectually drain 

 the marsh. There is plenty of good timber along the 

 valley, consisting of poplar, elm, and black ash, with 

 small oaks. Leaving German Creek here on our left, we 

 went along a low ridge about one foot above the level of 

 the marsh, and varying in width from fifty to a hundred 

 yards ; it runs in a south-easterly direction for about three 

 miles, and then widens out on the left ae far as I could 

 see, and on the right to half a mile. At this point we 

 were about three miles from German Creek, which we 

 lose sight of now for some time. Continuing in the same 

 direction for three miles more through beautiful rich grass, 

 with clumps of aspens on the left, and high willows on the 

 right, we came to Oak Creek, which is about two chains 

 wide, but so still and sluggish that it rather resembles a 

 long lake. Our course lay along it nearly due east for 

 two and a half miles, when the creek turns to the south. 

 This would be an admirable place for a settlement, the 

 land being as rich as any in the whole country, and there 

 being a large supply of oak, averaging one foot six inches 

 in diameter, and poplars suitable for fencing. 



" On the south side of Oak Creek the open prairie 

 stretches away to the horizon, the greater part of that 



