446 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



timber of fair quality. The depth and breadth of the 

 river is variable ; in one or two places it is impeded by 

 mud-flats and shoals, sometimes holding snags and saw- 

 yers. About noon we came to the mouth of a tributary 

 stream 100 feet broad, flowing into the Saskatchewan from 

 the north, which we supposed to lead to Cumberland, as it 

 corresponded to the description given to us at the Nepo- 

 wewin, but being desirous of keeping the main river, we 

 went on until reaching an old carrying place, called " Pem- 

 mican Portage," leading to the fort, where we discharged 

 and hauled up the canoe. I despatched the Blackfoot 

 half-breed to the fort, and he returned in the evening 

 reporting the road very wet and marshy. We came 

 to-day nearly twenty-nine miles, so that the distance 

 between Fort a la Corne and Cumberland House, by 

 the windings of the river, is upwards of 150 miles. 



August 13th. — Owing to the thick growth of rushes 

 and the shallowness of the water in many parts of the 

 marsh between the Saskatchewan and Pine Island Lake, 

 we had to go over to Cumberland this morning in the 

 empty canoe, pushing it through the marsh until we 

 reached a strip of dry ground, about half a mile wide 

 behind the fort. Mr. Edward M'Gillivray, the gentleman 

 in charge pro tem., received us very hospitably. I ob- 

 tained from him some pemmican and flour, and got him 

 to procure for me a new canoe, for which I had to 

 wait, as it was not quite finished. In the forenoon a 

 brigade of boats from the McKenzie Eiver arrived and 

 departed en route to York Factory. One of the boats 

 contained Mr. Anderson, chief factor, who was going 

 direct to Eed Eiver and Canada. Although Mr. Ander- 

 son left Cumberland three days before us, in a boat of 

 four or five tons burthen, well manned and equipped, and 

 infinitely better adapted for encountering the boisterous 



