been cut off' by the same tribe some years ago. We travelled twelve
miles to-day. The wolves serenaded us through the night with a
ehorus of their agreeable how ling, but none of them ventured near
the encampment. But Mr. Back’s repose was disturbed by a more
serious evil: his buffalo robe caught fire, and the shoes on his feet,
being contracted by the heat, gave him such pain, that he jumped
up in the cold, and ran into the snow as the only means of obtaining
relief.
On the 28th we had a strong and piercing wind from N.W. in our
faces, and much snowdrift; we were compelled to walk as quick as
we could, and to keep constantly rubbing the exposed parts of the
skin, to prevent their being frozen, but some of the- party suffered
in spite of every precaution. We descried three red-deer on the
banks of the river, and were about to send the best marksmen after
them, when they espied the party, and ran away. A supply of
meat would have been very seasonable, as the men’s provision had
become scanty, and the dogs were without food except a little burnt
leather. Owing to the scarcity of wood, we had to walk until a
late hour, before a good spot for an encampment could be found,
and had then attained only eleven miles. The night was miserably
told; our tea froze in the tin pots before we could drink it, and
even a mixture of spirits and water became quite thick by congelation
: yet, after we lay down to rest, we felt no inconvenience, and
heeded not the wolves, though they were howling within view.
The 29th was also very cold, until the sun burst forth, when the
travelling became pleasant. The banks of the river are very scantily
supplied with wood through the part we passed to-day. A long
track on the south shore, called Holms Plains^ is destitute of any
thing like- a tree, and the opposite bank has only stunted willows ;
but, after walking sixteen miles, we came to a spot better wooded,
and encamped opposite a remarkable place, called by the voyagers
* The Neck of Land.”
A short distance below our encampment, on the peninsula formed
by the confluence of the Net-setting river with the Saskatchewan,
there stands a representation of Kepoochikawn, which was formerly
held in high veneration by the Indians, and is still looked upon
with some respect. It is merely a large willow bush, having its
tops bound into a bunch. Many offerings of value such as handsome
dresses, hatchets, and kettles, used to be made to it,,,but of
late its votaries have been less liberal. It was mentioned to us as a
signal instance of its power, that a sacrilegious moose-deer having
ventured to crop a few of its tender twigs was found dead at the
distance of a few yards. The bush having now grown old and
stunted is exempted from similar violations.
On the thirtieth we directed our course round The Neck of Land,
which is well clothed with pines and firs; though the opposite or
western bank is nearly destitute of wood. This contrast between
the two banks continued until we reached the commencement of
what our companions called the Barren Grounds, when both the
banks were alike bare. Vast plains extend behind the southern
bank, which afford excellent pasturage for the buffalo, and other
grazing animals. In the evening we saw a herd of the former, but
could not get near to them. After walking fifteen miles we encamped.
The men’s provision having been entirely expended last
night, we shared our small stock with them. The poor dogs had
been toiling some days on the most scanty fare; their rapacity, in
consequence, was unbounded; they forced open a deal box, containing
tea, &c., to get at a small piece of meat which had been
incautiously placed in it.
As soon as daylight permitted, the party commenced their
march, in expectation of reaching Carlton-House to breakfast,
but we did not arrive before noon, although the track was good. We
were received by Mr, Prudens, the gentleman in charge of the post,
with that friendly attention which Governor Williams’s circular was