290 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



Souris in the midst of a very lovely, undulating country ; 

 the river is here fifty feet broad, and in its passage 

 through the Blue Hills it has excavated a valley fully four 

 hundred and fifty feet deep. Rock exposures are of 

 frequent occurrence, the dip being 3° south. Fragments 

 and perfect forms, but very fragile, of a large inoceramus 

 are common. The ferruginous concretions continue dis- 

 posed in regular layers, and appear to be a characteristic 



Valley of the Souris, looking towards the Blue Hills of the Souris. 



feature of the cretaceous rocks in this valley. A con- 

 tinuation of the valley of the Souris extends in a direction 

 nearly south-east towards Pembina River, with which it 

 is said by the half-breeds to interlock. Three lakes 

 visible from our camp were stated to be the sources of 

 Pembina River ; a little stream issuing from the most 

 westerly of these is called Backfat rivulet, it flows into 

 the Souris. Southwards, Turtle Mountain shows with 

 a faint blue outline on the horizon. 



Deer are very numerous at this beautiful bend of the 



