The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-02-03

human projects One leaves nome Win
the proud desire Of hunting the large deer
/ of Canada, and is reduced to STOPPING
down at the opening of - InHSk-rat hole,
and pOking into it with ioag stick.
1t may be easily conceived how eagerly
they looked forward to the return of
spring, which was at last announced by
the appearance of immense aocks Of birds,
so dense that during the day they obscured
the sky, and during the night, interrupted
their sleep by the constant tapping Of
their wings.
The horses, having been turned out in
the forest to take care of themselves, were
found wandering at a short distance, and
the adventurous party proceeded on their
way, bound on more dangerous expedi-
ton. Being afraid Of the jokes that would
not fail to be made at their expense, for
having spent whole winter in the territory
of the Hudson Bay Company with nothing
to show but the furs OF martens caught
BY others, Lord Milton and Dr. Cheadle
conceived great project-a patriotic and
national project to discover way of d.
rect communication between Canada and
the auriferous grounds of Cariboo, in Brit
ish Columbia.
The reader has, doubtless, noticed the
short distances between the upper Missis-
sippi and Red River and other rivers flow
inginto Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg
In fact. most of the great streams of North
America, have their sources in the north
ern central part of the continent, from
whence some Of them flow in q southerly
direction, such as the Mississippi and its
afiluents. while others incline to the west
ward. Another strange and noticeable
feature Of the confgnration of the Ameri-
can continent is, that the Mississippi,
which flows into the Gulf of Mexico, has
it's source higher to the northward than
those streams which empty into the Hud-
son Bay. In the 49th degree Of latitude.
which separates the English from the Amer
lean possessions, large streams of water
flow in parallel, but contrary direction.
Profting by these natural advantages. NJ.
de Montcalm, and his predecessors in the
government Of Canada, were able to es-
tablsh, outside of the English Colonies,
which, in later years, formed the Republic
of the United States, water communion
tons between Canada and Louisiana, then
also belonging TO France. This geograph-
ical feature is the reason why the most
decisive blows to the South in the late
American civil war, were given on the
Mississippi.
Awaiting themselves of this peculiar
distribution Of the streams over the sur
face of the Hudson Bay Territory, the fur
companies have established, in the North
West. a network of settlements which
form, from Lake Superior and the Hud-
son Bay TO the Rocky Mountains,
succession of circular lines, the remotest
and nearest points of which communicate
directly with the sea. Our travellers had,
in order to arrive at the Rocky Mountains,
only TO follow the course of the Saskat-
chewan from Fort Carleton to Fort Pitt,
and from Fort Pitt to Fort Edmonton,
these being the main stations of the Com
pany in that part of the country called the
Saskatchewan
1t is difficult and rather dangerous to
travel in the northwestern regions of
America in the spring season, Oh account
of the rivers and streams being swollen by
the melted SHOWS of the mountains. and
over1owing their banks. However, leav.
ing out of consideration the difficulties
they experienced in crossing the water,
the journey from Fort Carleton TO Fort
Edmonton was not at all disagreeable.
They were, more than once, amused and
highly pleased with what they met. They
saw that strange bird called the Grouse of
the Prairie, the habits Of which, according
to their relation, are somewhat surprising
They assemble together every evening
and give themselves up to most extraya-
CANT kind of dance. While some of them
beat time by tapping their wings at regu-
lar intervals, the Others turn rapidly round
and round, and then each shifting his
place goes and meets his neighbor in a
kind of chdssez-croiSez
When they arrived at Fort Pitt, mo-
mentary truce having taken place between
the Indian Crees and the tribe of the
Black Feet, our travellers had the pleasure
of seeing one of the Indian nations allied
to the Sioux. They were struck by the
noble mien, and fine outward appearance
of the Black Feet, compared with those
of the subjects of the Company.
Peace did not seem destined to have
long reign. and as it is one of the habits
Of the Black Feet and the Sioux to feel
such keen sentiment of remorse when
they have sold their horses, that they do
not rest till they have stolen them back
from the purchasers. it was deemed pru-
dent to cross to the right bank Of the Sas-
katchewan. and to proceed to Fort Ed