, 1853-08-06

Daylight OF IL, 9Th brought with /, il.
troubles il was foun1 lhat the horses had
sirayod, "a disaster that the Indians took
quite cooily, hoping it would be the cause
Of their return. After diligcn; sragch.,hc
horses were found in places where they had
sought better food, although it was scaaiy
enough even there.
Dmng the day, the route Led along lht
Smalooho, which runs nearly east and wc,l,
and they only LEFT its banks when lhcv were
oblig to do 50 By various impossible Lar
riers. This part Of the country is compos.
ed OF cohical hills, which are all thickly
clothed with pine trees of gigantic dmen-
sions. They made nine miles this DAY,
without accident 51t when they encamp2d
they had no food for the horses except fern
The animals, in consequence, seemed much
overcome, as did also the Indians, who had
travelled the whole day with heavy loads.
Lieutenant johnson, by way Of diveriing
the fatigue Of the latter, got up a Shooting
match for knife, the excitement Of which
had the desired 1T Ct
The trees hcreaLout were chiefly the cot
ton wood, maple, spruce, pine, and elder,
and some under growth Of raspberry, the
young shoots Of which the natives cat with
great relish.
On the 25Ih, they set out at an carly
hour, and found the travelling less rough, SO
that they reached the foot Of La Trlc be,
fore noon, having accomplished eleven miles
Lieutenant Johnson with the sergeant as
cendcd La Trte, obtained the learings, from
its summit, Of all the objects around. and
made its height by barometer, two thousand
seven hundred and ninety-eight feet: its
latitude was fixed at 40 0o' 81" n. This
mountain was entirely destitute of wood /;
bot, having been burnt over, was found
strewn with huge charred trunks, and the
whole ground covered with ashes. The in
eliuation OF its sides was about fifty degrees.
The country around seemed one contin>
n,d series Of hills, aud like La Tele had
suffered from the fire. According to the
natives, although the wood on the mountains
was destroyed many years since, yet it was
still observed 10 be on fire, in some places.
about two years ago. Most Of the tops Of
the distant peaks had snow on them. To
the east vas seen the appearance of two val
leys, through which the two branches oil the
Smalocho flow.
On descending Eom La Tctc, the river
was to be crossed this was found too deep
to be lo:ded, and It consequently became
necessary TO form a brid ge TO transport the
baggage, by cutting down trees. The cur
rent was found to run o. miles per hou-.-
They had been IN hopes ol reaching the Lit
- -
tie Prairie before night, but in consequence
OF this delay, wcie forced to cncamp before
arriving there.
Ihc Indians complained much OF the want
OF food many of the horses also were ex
hausled from the same cause, and exhibited
their scanty nomishucnt in their emaciatcd
app aranco.
On the 2Glh. thcv reached the Liulc
Prairie al nm early hour. where. after con-
sul,alion. il was determined 10 wn,t a dav
10 recruit the horses. as ibis was the only
mace lhcv could obtain food. If was also
desirable 10 ascertain tho p.acticabiliy of
ra.sino the mountain with ,bc horses. and
at the same lime TO carry forward some or
the loads, that the horses might have as it,
tie as possible to transport. Mr.. Waldron
and Pierre Charles were therefore sent for
ward with the Indians. having loads of 6ltv
pounds each. to ascend tho mountain, while
Lieutenant johnson remained with the camp
to get observations. DR.. Pickering and Mr..
Brack nidgc accompanied the party of MrI
Waldron 10 The snow-linc. The prailie Of
which they had cncamped was about lwo'
and half acres in extent. and another of
the same size was found half a mile farther
cast.
The 9th was emnloycd by Lieutenant
John on in d .tprminin, the p6sitionS6r this
prairie, which proved to be in latitude 40
t5' 81" n, and longitude 1900 13' W
The variation was 100 39' cadcllev. At
sunset, messengers arrived from Mr.. Wald-