376 ASSIOTIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



tlie whole day. May 3rd, ice drifting- all last night ; 5th, river full of ice ; 

 12th, planted potatoes and onions ; 20th, planting potatoes ; three sturgeons 

 caught. June 2nd, hard frost last night; 30th, starvation is staring the 

 people in the face, Have caught no sturgeon for some time back.* 1858, 

 April 21st, ice drifting ; large quantities of ice on the banks. May 1st, 

 clearing up of north garden ; 7th, preparing potato ground ; first sturgeon 

 caught; 12th, planted potatoes; 17th, slight fall of snow; 18th, wind from 

 N. and cold. Think we are going to have a second winter. 



The growth of forests is very intimately connected with 

 the climate of a large extent of country. That forests 

 once covered a vast area in Eupert's Land there is no 

 reason to doubt. Not only do the traditions of the natives 

 refer to former forests, but the remains of many still exist 

 as detached groves in secluded valleys, also on the crests 

 of hills, or in the form of blackened prostrated trunks 

 covered with rich grass, and sometimes with vegetable 

 mould or drifted sand. The agent, which has caused the 

 destruction of the forests that once covered many parts 

 of the prairies is undoubtedly fire, and the same swift and 

 effectual destroyer prevents the new growth from acquiring 

 , dimensions which would enable it to check their annual 

 progress. Nearly everywhere, with the exception of the 

 treeless, arid prairie west of the Souris, and west of Long 

 Lake on the north side of the Qu'appelle, young willows 

 and aspens were showing themselves in 1858, where fire 

 had not been on the previous year. South of the Assin- 

 niboine and Qu'appelle few plains had escaped the confla- 

 gration in 1857, and the blackened shoots of willow were 

 visible as bushes, clumps, or wide-spreading thickets where 

 the fire had passed. 



The end or tail of the prairies is at Fort Liard, a short 

 distance to the south of Fort Simpson (latitude 61° 51 

 7" K). There is a long high belt of prairie land which 



* A common record in the journals at the different posts in Rupert's Land. 

 The cause must be referred to the habits of the people, their occupation, &c. r 

 and not to the capabilities of the country. — H. Y. H. 



