8 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



of the lake at and near the mouths of Eed Eiver. A 

 northerly gale throws up a bar or beach about one 

 hundred yards from the main shore ; on the new beach 

 drifted timber accumulates, and in process of time be- 

 comes consolidated by the gravel and sand which is 

 washed between the logs. Willows soon grow on the 

 new soil thus formed, and bind the whole into a firm 

 beach with a marsh in the rear. A heavy gale may sweep 

 the new land away or throw up another beach about one 

 hundred yards in advance of it, on which the process of 

 consolidation is renewed. For ages past this work of 

 construction and destruction has been greatly in favour of 

 the former. Hence it arises that, with the exception of 

 the newly formed spit at the mouth of the river, there is 

 no accessible camping ground for several miles up the 

 stream ; marshes surround the spits or old beaches on 

 which the willows grow, and extend in all directions as 

 far as the eye can reach. 



The beach and marshes contain an infinite number of 

 fresh-water shells belonging to the genera Helix, Bulimus, 

 Succinea, Pupa, Planorbis, Lymneus, &c. &c. For many 

 hundred yards together the beach is covered with perfect 

 or disintegrated forms of these shells, thrown up by the 

 waves upon the sand. 



We employed ourselves during our unexpected deten- 

 tion in examining the coast, sounding the river, and in 

 shooting and fishing. Our sporting brought us only six 

 duck, three plover, and three large pike. The flesh of 

 the pike was of a delicate salmon colour, more like that 

 of the salmon trout of the Canadian lakes than of the 

 common pike. 



Sept. 21st. — Eising at 4 a. m. in half an hour we were en 

 route, the morning just beginning to dawn ; temperature 



