Jan. 25, 1858.] BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION. 
149 
may be called a buffalo preserve, being tbe battle-ground between 
the Crees and Blackfeet, where none go to hunt for fear of meeting 
enemies, and where those who go to war abstain from hunting. 
The whole region, as far as the eye could reach, was covered with 
buffalo, in bands varying from hundreds to thousands. So vast 
were the herds, that I began to have serious apprehensions for my 
horses, as the grass was eaten to the earth, as if the plain had been 
devastated by locusts. However, the timber on the small tribu- 
taries of the river kept off the buffalo, and so a little grass was ob- 
tained for the horses, for the buffalo shuns the timber until mid- 
winter. 
At the Elbow I found a large tributary flowing from the east into 
the Saskatchewan, and I dispatched Dr. Hector with one or two 
men to trace the course of this river, which I find flows from the 
most western of the chain of Qui Appelle lakes, being navigable 
to large boats the whole way. Hence I have been able to ascertain 
that there exists a valuable water communication between the south 
Saskatchewan and Eed Eiver, and that a good-sized boat, and even 
a small steamer, might descend from the south Saskatchewan, 
ascend to the west Qui Appelle river, cross the Qui Appelle lakes, 
and then descend the Qui Appelle into Eed Eiver. 
After the Doctor’s return from exploring the western Qui Ap- 
pelle, we commenced our ascent from the Elbow, and reached the 
109th meridian of longitude on the 28th of September. This magni- 
ficent river rivals the Missouri in size and volume, and even at this 
(the lowest state of water during the whole year) was navigable for 
craft of any size, as I found by sad experience, having been so un- 
fortunate as to lose one of my waggons in the channel of the river 
at a depth of sixteen feet, wdiere I subsequently crossed it. All 
particulars of this river — its timber, capabilities, &c. — will be found 
in my journal, which I hope to have the honour of forwarding to 
England next spring. The 109° meridian is the farthest point to 
the westward that I have this season explored. At this point I 
crossed the river to the north side, and started on a north-east 
course for Carlton, my winter quarters, where we arrived on the 8th 
of October. 
* * * * * 
I started from Carlton (Upper Saskatchewan) October 11th, 
reached Touchwood Hills October 15th, Fort Pelly October 18th, 
Fort Ellice October 23rd, and on the 1st of November arrived at 
Eed Eiver. This portion of my journey was very cold, accom- 
panied with snow almost every day, yet not sufficient to delay me 
or cause me much inconvenience. At Eed Eiver I found very great 
