422 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



August \§th. — The view this morning from the summit 

 of a mound revealed a rolling, treeless prairie, stretching 

 on all sides, and bounded only by the horizon. The 

 wooded range of Pheasant Mountain appears low in the 

 south-west, serving only to destroy the uniformity of the 

 general outline. Numerous lakes, ponds, and marshes, 

 covered with wild fowl, are visible in every direction. 

 The soil in low situations is good, supporting long grass 

 which afforded fine pasturage for our cattle. The ridges 

 and mounds are gravelly, and a few boulders of the un- 

 fossiliferous rocks are seen here and there. It is remark- 

 able that east of the Touchwood Hills no limestone 

 boulders have been yet noticed, but limestone gravel is 

 common. 



The Pheasant Mountain runs north-east and south-west, 

 and may be from fifteen to twenty miles long. Like its 

 western companion, File Hill, it is wooded with aspen, 

 and full of ponds and lakelets. At its foot the half-breeds 

 report a lake ten to fifteen miles in length, on the south- 

 east side, which we thought we could see from our point 

 of view. The Greater and Lesser Touchwood Hills, the 

 Pheasant Hill, and the File Hill, all appear to be rich, 

 humid tracts, which will become important centres when 

 civilisation in conjunction with population reaches these 

 solitudes. North of the Carlton trail, and in the direction 

 of Fort Pelly, the country is marshy, and abounds in 

 ponds and wet places, which emit a very disagreeable 

 odour when disturbed in passing through them. Beaver 

 Mountain, a continuation of the Touchwood Hills, is seen 

 from this wet prairie. The wet grass reminded me that 

 the dews in the Touchwood Hills are very heavy and 

 abundant at this season of the year. Last night dew was 

 deposited a few minutes after the setting of the sun, 

 although the sky was cloudy, and prevented direct radi- 



