152 
BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION. [Jan. 25, 1858. 
and other necessaries with, the inhabitants to the south, living in milder lati- 
tudes. I look upon this exploring expedition of Capt. Palliser as highly 
meritorious ; it will open up a territory of whose physical geography and 
intercommunication and juxtaposition of streams we are at present ignorant, 
but the knowledge of which will be hereafter highly useful. 
With reference to the approaching extermination of the buffalo, the Indians 
are to blame. Ever since white traders went amongst them, they kill the 
buffaloes wherever they meet them — not for food, but to sell their skins. In 
prairies 160 miles in extent 1 have seen in every direction skeletons of buffaloes 
slain in this destructive manner. 
I desire to conclude these remarks with my conviction, derived from a long 
experience of the progress of mankind under nearly similar circumstances, 
that industrious colonists in those regions would in time establish a regular 
and profitable commerce favourable to the interests of Great Britain. 
Colonel Lefroy, f.r.g.s. — I only rise for the purpose of adding my testi- 
mony to the valuable contribution to our knowledge of that region which 
has been given us by Mr. Palliser : one more substantial than we have 
had from any other source for a long period. I leave to geologists to estimate 
the value of the discovery of coal, which I have a vague recollection of having 
heard of when I was in the country. But what impressed me most was the 
discovery of a navigable water communication between the Saskatchewan and 
the Red River by means of the Qui Appelle waters. They seem to traverse a 
large extent of country, and if the discovery be substantiated, will greatly 
facilitate our means of communication with those western regions towards 
the Rocky Mountains ; but it will hardly be safe to assume that the depth of 
water found by the travellers where they sounded is to be met with generally 
along them, the Saskatchewan itself being full of shallows. I differ from 
many as to the destination of that region with regard to the support of an 
increasing population. I am one of those who think it never can support 
a dense agricultural population, or one in any degree comparable with that 
of Canada. But there is a fact mentioned by Mr. Palliser which struck me : 
it is that he found Indian corn ripe at Fort Ellice. I believe Indian corn has 
not been found to ripen with any certainty on the Red River. It is a very 
interesting point to find within the limits of the British territory a region where 
it will do so. With regard to the abundance of buffaloes spoken of, it was 
mentioned to me as a positive fact by Mr. Heriot, that a brigade of boats was 
delayed three whole days in going up the river in consequence of the im- 
mense herds of buffalo crossing the stream. This was in 1841 or 1842. In 
all these respects Mr. Palliser’s account agrees with our previous information, 
and he has added to it most materially. It must be gratifying to this 
Society to have been the means of sending out a traveller so observant and in- 
telligent. 
The President. — I may observe, with reference to this expedition, that 
Captain Palliser is accompanied by two or three men of science of considerable 
distinction. Dr. Hector is a good naturalist and geologist ; Mr. Sullivan is a 
gentleman capable of making physical and astronomical observations ; and our 
Associate Lieutenant Blakiston is making all the magnetical observations. So 
that we may hope for considerable additional results. The main feature of the 
present communication is the discovery of this remarkable water-shed, pro- 
ceeding from the Qui Appelle lakes — the waters flowing both to the east 
and west. It was previously unknown to geographers, who must see the 
importance of this discovery, as regards the future destiny of that country, in 
the facility it may afford for the transport of merchandise to and from the 
interior. 
