THE VALLEY OF LONG CEEEK. 



407 



parterres of several acres in extent occupied by one 

 species, here the yarrow, there the fire weed, then a field 

 of a species of helianthus, followed by Liatris scariosa. 

 When viewed from an eminence, the country appeared to 

 be clothed with pink, white, yellow, and blue, in singular 

 contrast to the uniform tint which prevails on the great 

 prairies of the Little Souris. The valley of Long Creek 

 offers by far the most attractive features for settlement of 

 any part of the country through which we have passed 

 since leaving Prairie Portage. 



Our course now followed the windings of a shallow 

 brook which runs into the South Branch. It meanders 

 through a fine broad and rich valley with hills on its 

 south-eastern side gently sloping towards it, and covered 

 with the dead yet standing trunks of burnt aspens. The 

 soil of this valley differs in no particular from that of 

 Long Creek ; the flowers are equally numerous and showy, 

 consisting of the same varieties, and distributed in large 

 patches occupied by a single species. 



We passed near to the source of a river which flows 

 into the main Saskatchewan at the Pas, about 140 miles 

 distant from us. It is called Carrot Eiver or Eoot Eiver, 

 and rising within twelve miles of the South Branch, 

 drains an extensive area of wooded country, passing also 

 in its course through numerous lakes. The head waters 

 of Eoot Eiver being within ten or twelve miles of the 

 South Branch show that the height of land between the 

 two water-sheds maintains the same distance as on the 

 Qu'appelle, and at the north fork of that valley near the 

 Moose Woods. 



The valley through which the small tributary of the 

 South Branch flows, separates the Lumpy Hill of the 

 Woods from the west flank of the Birch Hills ; it is rich 

 in alluvial meadows, ponds and lakes. A view from the 



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