316 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



outer bark scraped off after having been warmed over a 

 fire ; a knife is then pressed against the inner bark and 

 drawn upwards, for a space of six or eight inches, until 

 the whole of the inner bark is gathered in curly clusters 

 round the stick, it is then thrust in the ground over the 

 embers and roasted until quite dry, when, mixed with 

 tobacco in equal proportions, it forms the favourite kinni- 

 kinnik of the North- West Indians. I often saw them 

 smoke bark or the leaves of the bear-berry alone, when 

 their supply of tobacco was exhausted. 



The Indian who accompanied us from Fort Ellice to 

 the Qu'appelle Mission, complained of weakness and pain 

 in the chest, he suffered much from cough, and was evi- 

 dently consumptive ; he was treacherous and indolent, 

 and, as will be shown hereafter, soon left us in the lurch. 



Beyond the Weed Eidge the country is very undulating ; 

 boulders of Silurian limestone and gneiss were strewed on 

 the flanks and summits of the hills. The white or whoop- 

 ing crane (Grus Americana) was first seen to-day. This 

 beautiful bird is common in the Qu'appelle Valley and in 

 the Touchwood Hill range. It is a dangerous antagonist 

 when wounded, striking with unerring aim and great 

 force with its powerful bill. When the bird is wounded, 

 the best way to avoid its attacks is to present the muzzle 

 of the gun as it approaches, it will fix its bill in the barrel 

 and may then be destroyed without danger. Instances 

 have been known of this bird driving his bill deep into 

 the bowels of a hunter when not successful in warding 

 off its blow. Magpies are numerous on the Weed Eidge, 

 and the cat bird is heard in every little wooded dell. 



On the 15th we passed two streamlets flowing into the 

 Qu'appelle. Their banks were fringed with small timber, 

 and quite livery with birds, which are far more abundant 

 here than on the Souris. On the borders of all the wooded 



