404 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



left the men to track the canoe up the river. A ride of 

 twelve miles brought me to the middle of Selkirk Settle- 

 ment, and by 11 p.m. I was in our old quarters, after a 

 canoe voyage of forty-eight days in all ; nine of which 

 were occupied in descending from the Elbow of the South 

 Branch of the Saskatchewan to Fort a la Corne, fourteen 

 from thence to the mouth of the Saskatchewan, and 

 twenty-five days in traversing Lake Winnipeg. 



The whole distance traveled and explored in canoe is 

 over 940 miles ; 600 of which being down the Saskatche- 

 wan, and 340 miles open lake navigation. In performing 

 this latter part of the journey with a little frail canoe, 

 heavily laden, we were completely windbound for twelve 

 days, and had to contend nearly all the time we were 

 moving with boisterous head winds, foul weather, and a 

 hand to mouth sustenance. This will, in some measure, 

 account for the slow rate of progress we unwillingly 

 made through Lake Winnipeg. I must take this oppor- 

 tunity of bearing testimony to the unwearied labour, 

 patient endurance, and unflinching devotion of my two 

 voyageurs. Their conduct while they were my com- 

 panions, for nearly two months was beyond all praise ; 

 and they sustained hardships and risks of no ordinary 

 description without a murmur. 



Very truly yours, 



John Fleming. 



H. Y. Hind, Esq. &c. &c. &c. 



END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 



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