THE GRAND FORKS. 



393 



seen, while on the opposite side are low alluvial points 

 covered with aspens, thick and impenetrable. Six miles 

 from the Grand Forks yellow clay cliffs, 120 feet high, 

 appear at the outside curve of the bends, and where the 

 adjoining flat begins, balsam-spruce two feet in diameter 

 is not uncommon. 



At half-past two p.m. we arrived at the North Branch, 

 coming upon it suddenly and finding ourselves in its 

 waters almost before we were aware of its proximity. 

 The temperature of. the South Branch was 67°, of the 

 North Branch 62° ; an important difference at this season 

 of the year. It is perhaps a fair standard by which to 

 estimate the climatic character of the regions of country 

 through which these rivers flow. The water of the South 

 Branch is yellowish-brown in colour, and turbid; of the 

 North Branch a shade lighter and clearer ; the one more 

 resembled the waters of the Mississippi, the other those of 

 the St. Lawrence. The South Branch is the larger river 

 of the two at the Grand Forks. 



Throughout the entire length of our voyage we have been 

 surprised at the extraordinary absence of animal life. Of 

 quadrupeds, we have seen half a dozen wolves, two or three 

 badgers, several beaver, skunks, minks, foxes, and a num- 

 ber of dead buffalo ; of birds, eagles, geese, a few ducks, 

 kingfishers, cliff martins, pigeons, crows, cranes, plover, 

 hawks, and a few of the smaller birds ; but no deer, or 

 bear, or live buffalo ; and if we had been compelled to 

 depend altogether upon our guns for a supply of pro- 

 visions, it is probable that our voyage of 250 miles down 

 the South Branch would have been attended with some 

 inconvenience and delay. Early in spring and late in 

 the autumn game is more abundant, but during the sum- 

 mer season the smaller rivers in the prairies, the ponds 

 and lakes which abound throughout the country north of 



