7& JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



decay. The Indians have of late years 

 been gradually deserting the low or swampy 

 country, and ascending the Saskatchawan, 

 where animals are more abundant. A few 

 Crees were at this time encamped in front 

 of the fort. They were suffering under 

 hooping-cough and measles, and looked 

 miserably dejected. We endeavoured in, 

 vain to prevail on one of them to accom- 

 pany us for the purpose of killing ducks, 

 which were numerous, but too shy for our 

 sportsmen. We had the satisfaction, how- 

 ever, of exchanging the mouldy pemmican, 

 obtained at Swampy Lake, for a better 

 kind, and received, moreover, a small, but 

 very acceptable supply of fish. Holey 

 Lake, viewed from an eminence behind 

 Oxford House, exhibits a pleasing pros- 

 pect ; and its numerous islands, varying 

 much in shape and elevation, contribute to 

 break that uniformity of scenery which 

 proves so palling to a traveller in this 

 country. Trout of a great size, frequently 

 exceeding forty pounds weight, abound in 

 this lake. We left Oxford House in the 



