COUNTRY EAST OF LONG LAKE. 



421 



a south-west direction to the Qu'appelle. They are suc- 

 ceeded by a number of curious depressions or hollows, 

 circular or oval in form, and varying from one quarter to 

 one mile in diameter, often with a lake in the centre, but 

 without visible outlet. The land is hilly in which they 

 occur, and the elevations form a ridge rurining nearly 

 north-west and south-east, towards File Hill, like the 

 general direction of the hill ranges before described, but 

 the country is so undulating that it is difficult to ascertain 

 the true character of the surface until we arrive at the 

 summit plateau. Here boulders are seen, the sand is 

 coarse and mixed with a little clay, so as to resemble a 

 gravelly loam on the ridges and hills, as well as on their 

 flanks, but in the hollows and valleys the soil is excellent, 

 and the herbage very luxuriant. 



In returning from Last Mountain Lake, in an easterly 

 direction, Mr. Hime crossed a ridge supporting clumps of 

 poplar, and then struck into an open prairie country, 

 which soon became a series of high gravelly knolls, with 

 numerous boulders on them. About fifteen miles east of 

 Last Mountain Lake, he ascended a high range of gravelly 

 knolls, running from north to south, and then came to a 

 valley 150 feet deep ; in the bottom of this valley was a 

 small creek, expanding into a chain of ponds, each about 

 one quarter of a mile long, and three chains broad. 

 Ascending the opposite bank, another ridge of gravelly 

 knolls was passed, and a descent made into the prairie, 

 which continues rolling, and interspersed with willow 

 and aspen clumps and gravelly ridges, until File Hill is 

 approached, when a more humid tract begins, dotted 

 with marshes and ponds, in which innumerable hosts of 

 duck find shelter and breeding places. On nearing File 

 Hill, the soil improves in character, and the country 

 becomes very picturesque and attractive. 



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