BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

300 F. .A.. LAROCQ, UE
water in order to wait for Morrison who had remained
behind with one horse and load. He arrived an hour after: sent
McKay to the Fort to fetch provisions for himself, which he had
forgotten. Messrs. Chaboillez and Henry came to see me; they
remained with us a few hours, bid ns farewell and departed.
14th. Our course since leaving the fort has been west of south. Set
off in a south south-west direction, but the plains being burnt,
we changed our course north-west by west in order to find
food for our horses, having been informed that the plains were
not burnt in that direction.-Encamped at sunset at the last
woods upon the second river of the Elk Head, having crossed
the first river nearly at its source in the plains.-Mr. McKenzie
broke his gun.
15th. Removed our situation to about seven miles higher up the
river, there being better food for the horses, and from whence
the traverse of the plains is shorter to River La Souris, as it was
impossible to get by day to that river from where we slept last
night, as there is not a stick of wood in the intermediate space.
16th. Set off early in the morning and did not stop at all in the
course of the day. Perceived the woods upon the Souris at
sunset and arrived at them before dark, after having crossed a
creek in the plains, called by the Indians" Deep River," from
its being very deep in some places, where the water gathers and
forms into lakes.................. The plains were burnt in many
places.
18th. Set off one hour and a half before day light,-walked hard
till noon, wben we arrived at the wooas,-stopped one bour to
refresh ourselves and horses,-resumed our course, still following
the river and encamped upon it at sunset.