394 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



others encamped on Stony Mountain, and others again on 

 Bird's Hill opposite Stony Mountain on the east side of 

 the river. These localities and their altitudes above the 

 level of the prairie have already been described. 



The Bishop of Eupert's Land thus describes the scene 

 on the 24th May, when the flood was at its height : — 



" My sister and I started for the Stone Fort at 6 a.m. 

 It was necessary to see the Governor and Mrs. Mills on 

 business connected with the continuance of the schools. 

 Breakfasted with Major Caldwell in passing. Changed 

 for a larger canoe at the Upper Fort, and proceeded on- 

 wards. Called at my own house, from which we were 

 three canoes in convoy. As it turned out, ours was the 

 only one which escaped damage from the current. The 

 day was very fine, nearly as warm as the preceding. It 

 was like delicious lake scenery at home, but for the want 

 of background. What w^e here call hills, the Little and 

 Stony Mountains, are but very gentle eminences of a few 

 hundred feet, scarcely visible as heights, though all felt 

 their value on this occasion. Strange sights met our eyes 

 as we proceeded. Some of the bridges we saw four miles 

 below their former locality, and on the opposite side of 

 the river. The railing round some of the graves of the 

 upper church had also been carried down as far. A barn 

 had been tied to a strong tree to secure it, but it even- 

 tually floated off. The houses, many of them standing 

 up to the eaves in w r ater, showed less the destructive 

 effects of the water upon them than some weeks after, 

 when the waters had retired. At all the points where 

 the trees had caught the drift wood, it was collected in 

 great quantities, and upon it was a motley assemblage of 

 wheels, hay-carts, tables, doors, chairs, &c. 



" The delight was great to reach the first spot where 

 the banks were visible, at Park's Creek, half way between 



