FRAIRIE FIRES. 



291 



river ; it appears to be a favourite watering-place. The 

 half-breeds of St. Joseph often make it their crossing- 

 place when on a hunting expedition to the Grand Coteau. 

 It is not improbable that it will become a point of import- 

 ance if ever an emigrant route should be established from 

 Minnesota to the Pacific, via the south branch of the 

 Saskatchewan ; and from the great distance saved by going 

 through St. Joseph instead of Fort Garry, it is not im- 

 probable that this may yet be the case. 



Valley of the Soiu-is, opposite the Valley of the Backfat Lakes. 



On the 27th we succeeded in passing the Blue Hills, 

 and enjoyed on the evening of the same clay one of the 

 most sublime and grand spectacles of its kind which it is 

 possible to witness. Before leaving the last ridge of the 

 Blue Hills, we came suddenly upon the borders of a bound- 

 less level prairie on the opposite side of the river, one 

 hundred and fifty feet below us, of a rich, dark-green co- 

 lour, without a tree or shrub to vary its uniform level and 

 yet with one conical hill apparently in its centre. Here 

 we expected to find buffalo, but not a sign of any living 



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