378 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



reader that a knowledge of these facts gives great additional 

 value to the truly fertile valleys of Bed Eiver, the Assin- 

 niboine, part of the Qu'appelle, and portions of the South 

 and North Branch of the Saskatchewan. It determines 

 also the direction in which efforts should be made to 

 people this great wilderness, and guide the progress of 

 settlement in such a manner as will render the country 

 available for that grand desideratum, a route across the 

 continent : — 



" In the fanciful and exaggerated description given by 

 many of the character of the western half of the con- 

 tinent, some have no doubt been influenced by a desire 

 to favour particular routes of travel for the emigrants to 

 follow ; others by a desire to commend themselves to the 

 political favour of those interested in the settlement and 

 sale of the lands ; but much the greater portion by esti- 

 mating the soil alone, which is generally good, without 

 giving due weight to the infrequency of rains, or the 

 absence of the necessary humidity in the atmosphere, to 

 produce a profitable vegetation. But be the motive what 

 it may, the influence has been equally unfortunate by 

 directing legislation and the military occupation of the 

 country, as if it were susceptible of continuous settlement 

 from the peaks of the Alleghanies to the shores of the 

 Pacific." 



" Hypothetical geography has proceeded far enough in 

 the United States. In no country has it been carried to 

 such an extent, or been attended with more disastrous 

 consequences. This pernicious system was commenced 

 under the eminent auspices of Baron Humboldt, who 

 from a few excursions into Mexico, attempted to figure 

 the whole North American continent. It has been fol- 

 lowed by individuals to carry out objects of their own. 

 In this way it has come to pass, that, with no other 



