GERMAN CREEK. 



169 



which was within view being dry, there being only a few 

 patches of wet land. Leaving Oak Creek we went 

 through a country of this character for about nine miles 

 in a south-easterly direction, our track winding, how- 

 ever, a little to avoid the wet places, a few of which 

 we had to cross ; but none of them were more than 

 seven or eight chains wide, and easy of crossing. There 

 are numerous clumps of small aspens and willows in 

 every direction. We then proceeded nearly due east for 

 about seven miles, German Creek being from one and 

 a half to two miles on the north, a beautiful and rich 

 prairie lying between us and it, and on the south, one 

 mile distant, runs, a well wooded ridge, parallel with our 

 course ; then turning to the south-east we wound round 

 numerous large clumps of aspen from five to thirty feet 

 high, and willows for seven miles, when we came to a 

 rising ground so densely covered with young aspen and 

 fallen timber, that it was impossible for carts to go 

 further ; we therefore left them here, and made packs 

 of a few things for the horses to carry. Here the 

 land becomes of a lighter description, being of a light 

 sandy and clay loam. The timber has been all burnt, 

 and the ground was so thickly strewed with the fallen 

 logs, that it was with much difficulty the horses could 

 travel. Two miles further on we came to the banks of 

 German Creek ; its valley here is from fifteen to twenty 

 chains wide, and about forty feet deep ; it is full of excel- 

 lent timber, elm, oak, poplar, and black ash, all large 

 enough for building purposes. The creek, which is here 

 very rapid, is thirty feet wide, and about one foot six 

 inches deep. We followed its course for twenty-seven 

 miles, never being more than half a mile away from it. 

 The country through which we passed is for the most part 

 covered with trees of various kinds growing in large 



