244 RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



slightly elevated above its present level. This old chan- 

 nel pursues a straight course to Pembina Eiver, with 

 which, on the authority of half-breeds familiar with the 

 country, it is said to be connected. Entering the territory 

 of the United States against the course of the stream, the 

 Little Souris may be traced as far south as the 48th 

 parallel of latitude, when suddenly turning to the north- 

 west it pursues a course parallel to the flanks of the Grand 

 Coteau de Missouri, re-entering British territory about the 

 102nd degree of longitude. 



WOODED AND PRAIRIE LAND. 



The western and south-western slopes of the Eiding and 

 Duck Mountains support heavy forests of white spruce, 

 birch, aspen, and poplar. The trees are of a large size, 

 and often exceed 1^ and 2 feet in diameter, with an avail- 

 able length of 30 to 50 feet. On the summit plateau of 

 the Eiding Mountain the white spruce is the largest tree ; 

 here it attains dimensions, and is found in quantity suffi- 

 cient to give to this region a great economic value. The 

 wooded area over which timber consisting of the four 

 kinds of trees enumerated, is found on the Eiding and 

 Duck Mountains, has a length of one hundred and twenty 

 miles, with a breadth exceeding thirty miles. The afflu- 

 ents of the Assinniboine will serve during spring freshets, 

 to bear these valuable forest productions to . areas which 

 will probably first attract settlement, and where they will 

 be most required. 



In the valley of the Assinniboine is an extensive and 

 valuable forest of oak, elm, ash, maple, poplar, and aspen, 

 with an average breadth of four miles ; its length is about 

 thirty miles. The flats and hill sides of the deep eroded 

 valley, through which this river flows above Prairie Port- 

 age, sustain a fine forest, in which aspen, oak, birch, elm, 



