TA-WA-PIT AND HIS FAMILY. 



53 



and 500 feet below the summit, or about 500 above 

 Dauphin Lake. A sudden descent of 120 feet then 

 occurring, brought us to a fourth terrace, bounded by a 

 steep bank, to which succeeded a narrow step, and then 

 the low ridge where we had formed our camp on the 

 ninth. We arrived there thoroughly wet and uncom- 

 fortable ; the temperature, however, was much higher 

 than on the mountain, and the snow of the previous night 

 had entirely disappeared as we descended, but a drench- 

 ing rain instead promised a very disagreeable night, as 

 we could find no friendly spruce near at hand to afford 

 protection. 



October 12th. — The greater part of this day was spent in 

 retracing our steps to Dauphin Lake. The walk through 

 the marshes and bogs was found to be more fatiguing 

 than during our ascent, on account of the rain and the 

 cold water in the swamps. Two of the men complained 

 of rheumatic pains, and were incapable of doing any work 

 upon their arrival at the camp in the afternoon. During 

 our absence the men left at Dauphin Lake had set nets, 

 and caught some fine pike. The precipitation which had 

 occurred on the Riding Mountain in the form of snow, was 

 here a drizzling rain, which again commenced soon after 

 our arrival, and continued throughout the night. On the 

 following morning one of our best half-breeds was seriously 

 ill ; he complained of excruciating pains in the head and 

 limbs, and experienced great relief from cupping, which 

 the Indian performed with a flint and bowl of a tobacco 

 pipe. At noon we started in the boat for an Indian en- 

 campment at the west end of the lake, about six miles 

 distant. Here we found Ta-wa-pit, an old Ojibway, with 

 two sons, and their wives and children. Having made 

 arrangements with Ta-wa-pit for the hire of two horses 

 and a guide to cross the country to Manitobah House, 



