, 1859-11-02

[Wc are permitted to publish the following
letter from ". IT. Thompson, Of this city, who
went ont in June last, with Col. Noblcs' Explor-
Ing Expcdi ition.l
FoEr Et11cr, Parrish AxEs.cA.e
August IL. 1851. )
Il. L. SWIFT, Esa.-Dszr Sir: have delayed
writing to you for want Of items Of interest to
note down. This is the last Glance shall have
of sending of letters on my journey through,
10 make The very best time possible, in order to
gtt through the kootouais Pass hesote the fall
Of suoN.
Col, ". II. Mobiles, the leader Of the cxpcdi-
lion, returns from this place to st. Paul. and 4
portion Ut the company, originally intending
10 50 through, will return With him. Another
portion OF Tue original company left us ut Penn
bina, on account Of some difficulty aris n be-
tween them aud Col. Mobiles, to 80 through
alone; so that the train will be reduced to four
or six men, aud about eight animals, after we
leave this point. We are oil men ot no expert
encc in this kind Of travelling, and hare no
guide to lead US or trail TO follow but we are
4 determined SIT Of fellows, and don't Intend to
spend next wintc. this side Of the Rocky Noun
tains it we can possibly he3pit.
We stufl tnkc a direct course across the
plains from here to the Kootonais Pass. The
route which wc propose to take IS direct
course 10 the elbow Of the South Branch Of the
10 Bow River, and tien up that stream to fork
1bout ninety miles from its mouth, from which
point the monntslns IRE said 10 be visible. We
curry our provisions in the lied KiEer caEts, but
as soon as our loads are reduced SO as to render
it practicable, nc shall leave our carts aud pack
our animals for the balance Of the trip. We
feel little apprehension Of having our aniuna!s
aud provisions taken from us By tie Indians, as
our baud Is so small that VIC could make but
poor defense against party Of them. We are
all well armed with guns, Sharpe's rifles, re-
volyers, Ac., to each man, apd are determined
to sell our lives With our means OF Hiring. In
travelling NC make IN average Of about eighteen
or twenty miles per dag. We are now nbout
seven huudrca miles from the 1nouutains, and
cannot cross with safety after the middle OF
september. so you can judge Of the time We
lave to make il order 10 get through. Should
VIC hare had luck and be compelled to winter
this side, God help US.
I suppose you don't care about description
or&he country between st. Paul and Pembina,
as it ID aire ADJ well known. From Pcmbina We
| proceeded to ST. Joseph settlement Of: half
breeds 10 tue number Of about S,W0-rery
Mountains and on the rcrsbana River, one hun.
<lred miles from its mouth By water, and thirty
two miles across br land. FROM that place We
| took direct line across 10 Fort Ellice. The
/ country out from St. Joe for about eight days
travel is very good soil black loan, about three
1Fct aftp HtAEAt A.A A1t Aa1 1VSA'ANAS .oS
farms OF town sites poor; after leaving the
mountain ranges. the poorest ;t kind ind Of p,aisie @
| citation scaut. This pont--Fort nlice--is =
beautiful site as regards scenery, but the land is
| too poor for description. Fort Eliicc il trad-
| ins post Of the Hudson. By Company, situated
| on Dearer Creek, z little stream which empties
/ into the Assiuiboia Eiver, about mile below
| the fort.
Co. Mobiles intends to explore The country be-
| tween The mouth Of the Sh:yenne River, ria-
Dcvil's Lake and Turtle River. to .thc south
branch Of ~the Saskatchewan; lie "ill also send
| Smith $oufau Institute, Of Ne~ York, to aecont-
| pany. The expedtion-down the 4sslniboin River
| lsuui thss point TO For Garry, to ascertain the
! availability Of that stream for steamboat navi-
eaiiou in connection with that already estab-
| hstled On the Red RiTer.
From here shall be more particular in uotic-
ing the region Of country we pass through, and
| noteit doWnin lny diary; aud " eu ! aFrive ct
q point from which l can get of letters shall
tepd. you a description. Ne start from this
| place tomorrow. Havcplanted sunfoTer seeds
atcsery camping out from St :Ioe:
! ". #. THOMSON.