256 RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



beautiful level prairie studded with willow bushes, for about 

 nineteen miles in a south-east direction, when we struck 

 the first of the " Deux Eivieres" at sunset, crossed the river 

 and camped, having traveled twenty-two miles. A very 

 perceptible change was observed in the prairie the next 

 day on approaching Pine or Tamarac Eiver ; the soil 

 consisted of a light vegetable mould, and wherever rain 

 had fallen and collected in little hollows, sand showed 

 itself. Hummocks of aspen and willow relieved the same- 

 ness of the scenery, and a distinct rise by ridges, at the 

 base of which the river flowed, was easily recognized. 

 Pine Eiver at the crossing-place is about 25 feet broad 

 with a rapid current. Between Pine Eiver and Middle 

 Eiver the soil preserves its light character, the trail 

 running for many miles on ancient lake ridges or 

 beaches which are similar in every respect to those 

 observed between the Eoseau and Fort Garry. The 

 night of the 13th October was cold and fine ; a few 

 grasshoppers still lingered on the prairies, and their eggs 

 in many places lay in vast numbers on the surface of the 

 ground. The following day was clear, beautiful and warm, 

 but as night approached, the sky in the north-west began 

 to assume a ruddy tinge, and finally a lurid red, produced 

 by the fires in the rich prairies beyond the Assinniboine, 

 at least ninety miles in an air fine from Pine Eiver. 



During the morning of this day we traveled along an 

 ancient lake ridge, doubtless a continuation of one of 

 those which appear some miles east of the settlements 

 on Eed Eiver. Prairie hens were seen here in great 

 abundance, and numerous flocks of wild, geese passed 

 overhead. Near Pine Eiver we met " The Mail" borne 

 on the back of a half-breed, who was accompanied by a 

 boy fifteen or sixteen years old carrying the blankets and 

 cooking utensils. The mail bearer was ill, and had not 



