198 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



temperature, than the force of the wind. 

 An attempt was made to obtain the lati- 

 tude, which failed, in consequence of the 

 screw, that adjusts the telescope of the 

 sextant, being immoveably fixed, from the 

 moisture upon it having frozen. The in- 

 strument could not be replaced in its case 

 before the ice was thawed by the fire in the 

 evening. 



In the course of the day we passed the 

 confluence of the south branch of the 

 Saskatchawan, which rises from the Rocky 

 Mountains near the sources of the northern 

 branch of the Missouri. At Coles Falls, 

 which commence a short distance from the 

 branch, we found the surface of the ice 

 very uneven, and many spots of open 

 water. 



We passed the ruins of an establishment, 

 which the traders had been compelled to 

 abandon, in consequence of the intractable 

 conduct and pilfering habits of the Assine- 

 boine or Stone Indians ; and we learned 

 that all the residents at a post on the south 

 branch, had been cut off by the same tribe 



