276 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



Mr. Dawson, and immediately commenced to organize a 

 party to explore the country drained by the Assinniboine 

 and Little Souris. 



On the morning of the 14th June, the half-breeds en- 

 gaged for the expedition into the prairie country west of 

 Eed Eiver, assembled at our temporary quarters and 

 began to load five Eed Eiver carts and a waggon of 

 American manufacture, with two canoes, camp equipage, 

 instruments, and provisions for a three months' journey. At 

 noon the start was made, and the train proceeded to Fort 

 Garry*, a distance of eight miles, to take in a supply of 

 flour and pemmican. We camped about half a mile from 

 the fort and took an inventory of our baggage, and made 

 such regulations and arrangements as are considered ne- 

 cessary at the commencement of a long journey through 

 a country partly inhabited by hostile tribes of Indians, and 

 not always affording a supply of food even to skilled hunters. 



The party was composed of the gentlemen already 

 named, six Cree half-breeds, a native of Eed Eiver of 

 Scotch descent, one Blackfoot half-breed, one Ojibway 

 half-breed, and one French Canadian. Our provisions 

 consisted of one thousand pounds of flour, four hundred 

 pounds of pemmican, one thousand rations of Crimean 

 vegetables, a sheep, three hams, and a supply of tea for 

 three months, with a few luxuries, such as pickles, choco- 

 late, a gallon of port wine, and a gallon of brandy. Each 

 cart was loaded with about 450 lbs. and the waggon with 

 double that amount. The birch bark canoes were 18 feet 



* "The mean of five observations at Upper Fort Garry, at the mouth of 

 the Assinniboine, for latitude, three meridian by altitude of the sun and 

 two by Polaris, gave for the latitude 49° 53' 24". Mr. Calhoun, who was 

 attached to Major Long's expedition in 1823, made it 49° 53' 35", but ac- 

 cording to a record in the possession of one of the officers of the fort, 

 Lefroy placed it in latitude 49° 58V Owen's u Geological Survey of Wis- 

 consin, Iowa, and Minnesota," p. 180. Capt. Palliser places Fort Garry in 

 latitude 49° 52' 6". Longitude, 90° 52' 27". 



