PARTRIDGE CROP — FAIRFORD. 



35 



river, and fit for agricultural purposes. The spot was one, 

 however, of great resort among the Indians of this part 

 of the country, and hence the probable reason why a 

 selection of this site was made for the establishment of a 

 Mission. On landing, we found one Indian family who 

 are determined to continue the cultivation of the little 

 fields which have been cleared and enclosed. They had 

 accumulated three small stacks of hay, were possessed of 

 a yoke of oxen, and were living in one of the least dila- 

 pidated houses. 



We took to our boat at the beginning of Partridge Crop 

 Eiver, having secured a guide from the fleet of canoes in 

 the rear, to take us through a narrow passage between 

 beds of rushes which cover many square miles, and con- 

 stitute the " Crop," so called by the Indians on account 

 of the resemblance which the outline of this reedy ex- 

 panse bears to the " crop " of a partridge. We threaded 

 our way through the mazes of a marsh supporting rushes 

 so tall that, without climbing the mast of the boat, it was 

 impossible to see beyond the masses which enclosed us. 

 The rushes measured from ten to twelve feet in length, 

 and grew so thickly together that they formed a compact 

 green wall, past which the current flowed as if they were 

 formed of solid, stable materials. Through little open- 

 ings, which were now and then disclosed, we saw tranquil 

 ponds, with a scarcely perceptible stream. Here reveled 

 hosts of ducks of many species. 



We arrived at Fairford at 3 p. m., having occupied about 

 two hours in passing through the Crop. 



Fairford is very prettily situated on the banks of 

 Partridge Crop Eiver (a continuation of the Little Sas- 

 katchewan), about two miles from Lake Manitobah. The 

 banks are here about twenty feet high, and show alluvial 

 clay with boulders, but a short distance in the rear of 



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