78 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



level. Succeeding this low flat ridge is a broad plateau 

 slightly undulating and studded with straggling clumps of 

 young poplar and small oak, with willows in the shallow 

 depressions. The soil becomes rich in vegetable mould 

 again as we approach Shoal Lake, an extensive sheet of 

 water, shallow, reedy, connected with numerous lakes 

 lying to the north, and a favourite haunt of aquatic 

 birds. 



The south shore of Shoal Lake is particularly attractive. 

 Eidges supporting heavy oak fringe the shore, and beau- 

 tiful meadows, bordered with aspen and oak woods, reveal 

 themselves in making a short traverse to the south. Al- 

 though the shores of the lake are marshy, yet the oak 

 ridges some few hundred yards south of it are high and 

 dry. For a grazing establishment on the largest scale 

 Shoal Lake is admirably fitted. Wild hay in any desirable 

 quantity exists around its marshy shores, and in the beau- 

 tiful prairies lying south of it timber of excellent quality 

 for building purposes and fuel may be procured in abund- 

 ance ; in the spring and autumn the lake is covered with 

 wild fowl of every variety. Shoal Lake is a favourite 

 sporting ground of the gentlemen of Fort Garry and the 

 half-breeds of the settlement. It is on the main road to 

 Lake Manitobah, and is probably destined to become a 

 place of some note as a grazing station in the course of 

 time. 



On the 30th October I set out with Whiteway in 

 advance of the carts, in the hope of being able to reach 

 the settlements before nightfall. We passed through an 

 excellent prairie country studded with aspen groves, and 

 occasionally relieved by a broad shallow ridge, probably 

 of subaqueous origin, like those already described. The 

 Big Eidge of the Assinniboine is not well defined where 



