. under the Command Lieutenant Frankiik. . 143 
strata, dipping to the northward at an angle of 10°. The rocks 
yield readily to the conjoined actions of the water and the atmo- 
sphere, and fall into the river in large cubical fragments, which 
soon separate in the direction of the strata, into layers. The 
prevailing colour of the stone is cream-yellow; and it appears 
to contain a considerable portion of clay, as it adheres to the 
tongue, when broken. It burns into a very white lime, but it 
requires to be a long time exposed to the action of the fire. We 
could not find any other rock- associated with this limestone, nor 
could we discover any organic remains in the rocks in their na- 
tive situation ; but some small fragments lying loose amongst 
the soil, contained shells. The banks of the Saskatchewan, for 
the distance above mentioned,' are low and swampy, but in many 
places the limestone shews itself above the surface. It exhi- 
bits a surprising uniformity of appearance. 
During the winter, an excursion was made to Beaver Lake, 
about 40' miles to the northward, and the rocks were still found 
to be calcareous, but of a more crystalline texture, and varying 
in the colour, and in the direction of the strata. On the bor- 
ders of the lake, there are small hills and mural precipices of 
both red and yellow limestone. There are many deep rents in 
the rocks here, and the lake in some places is 15 fathoms deep. 
To the southward of Cumberland House, there is a round- 
backed hill, about 40 miles long, which the expedition had not 
an opportunity of visiting. It is visible about 30 miles off, and 
exhibits an even outline ; but we were told, that a near approach 
shews it to be rugged. There are several springs at its base, 
which afford a considerable quantity of salt 
The river was traced about 240 miles above Cumberland 
House to Carlton House. There the country is entirely 
consisting of extensive sandy plains, and nearly destitute of wood. 
These plains, about 200 feet above the present bed of the river, 
appear to have been covered at no very distant date. From the 
summit of the plain to the river, a regular gradation of three or 
more banks may be traced, shewing the height at which the rU 
ver has flowed at different periods. Amongst these banks, the 
river shifts its bed continually, encroaching, on the one side, on 
the deep bank of the plain, and forming low level points on the 
opposite shore. The : older plains are dry and sandy, and pro- 
