APPENDIX. 



413 



waters of the Mississippi, and towards the valleys of the Red 

 Eiver and the Assinniboine and the main Saskatchewan. The 

 popular impression that immense areas of land, available for the 

 purposes of agriculture, lie between the Missouri and the Rocky 

 Mountain chain, has, as before stated, been completely refuted 

 by the explorations and surveys for the Pacific Railroad. The 

 now well ascertained aridity of climate and its natural conse- 

 quence, sterility of soil, both combine to confirm the title of 

 " The Great American Desert," given by the early explorers 

 of the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains to that extensive 

 region of country. This important fact cannot fail to exercise 

 a powerful influence upon the occupation of British territory 

 north of the 49th parallel of latitude, and on the sources from 

 which that occupation will flow. [From a paper by the author 

 on the Great North-West, published in 1858.] 



VIII. 



SEASONS AT RED RIVER. 



ON THE PROGRESS OF THE SEASONS AND STATE OF THE WEATHER 

 AT RED RIVER SETTLEMENT, FROM 1ST JUNE, 1855, TO 3 1ST 

 MAY, 1856. 



1855. June 5th was the coldest day in the month. Ther- 

 mometer, 7 a. m., 58 ; 2 p. m., 63 ; 9 p. m., 56. The 14th was 

 the hottest day. Thermometer, 7 a. m., 72 ; 2 p. m., 88 ; 9 p.m., 

 71. Three inches of rain fell on the 17th, one on the 19th and 

 six on the 25 th. 



July 2nd was the coldest. Thermometer, 7 a. m., 56 ; 2 p. m., 

 78 ; 9 p. m., 68 ; light rain. The 25th was the hottest day. 

 7 a.m., 87 ; 2 p. m., 92 ; 9 p. in., 82. 7th, rain 3f inches; 10th, 

 rain f inches. Thunderstorm on the 17th, rain 3 inches. 26th, 

 1 inch rain; 29th, 3 inches rain; 30th, 2 inches; total 14f 

 inches. Wheat out of the ear. On the 1 2th hay-cutting com- 

 menced. Tabani and mosquitoes very numerous and trouble- 

 some. 



