402 ASSIISTNIBOTNE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



This sandy area occupies a narrow strip on the banks of 

 the river, varying from half a mile to four miles broad. 

 South of the sandy strip the soil changes to a rich black 

 mould distributed over a gently undulating country where 

 the pine gives place to aspen and willows in groves, the 

 aspens occupying the crest of the undulations, the willows 

 the lowest portion of the intervening valleys. On the 

 slopes the grass is long and luxuriant, affording fine pas- 

 turage. The general aspect of the country is highly 

 favourable for agriculture, the soil deep and uniformly 

 rich, rivaling the low prairies of Eed Eiver and the Assin- 

 niboine. Our course lay along the banks of Long Creek, 

 which flows in a small depression parallel to the South 

 Branch of the Saskatchewan, and enters the main river 

 near Fort a la Corne. 



The large poles of a great medicine tent, erected in 

 the spring to celebrate the annual goose dance, were 

 standing on the top of the hill sides of the valley which 

 the Saskatchewan has excavated. Four painted posts, 

 about five feet high, remained, two on the outside and 

 two on the inside of the ring of the medicine tent. 

 These were the images of Manitou the Indians invoked 

 during the celebration of important ceremonies. The fea- 

 tures of a man were roughly carved on each post, and 

 smeared with patches of vermilion and green-coloured 

 paint over the cheeks, nose, and eyebrows. When de- 

 corated with fresh paint, feathers, strips of leather, and a 

 painted robe of elk, moose, or buffalo skin, these idols 

 inspire the most superstitious awe among the untutored 

 savages who carve and ornament them. But the awe of 

 many becomes terror, and the superstition absolute idola- 

 try, when illumined by fires at night, and invoked as 

 the representatives of all-powerful Manitou, the whole 

 assemblage jumping in time to the wild song and mono- 



