Volume 1

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Il8
WITH LAGASSE AND DUBOIS AT HAIR HILLS.
buffalo in every direction. We set off, and at five o'clock
arrived at the foot of the mountain or hills.
Here we found Lagasse and Dubois in a small hut, 15
feet square, which answered for dwelling, storehouse, and
shop. Two Indians were with him, Nanaundeyea and
Grosse Loge ; they had made no hunt as yet. One of
them a few days ago saw a full-grown bear as white as
snow. His gun missed fire and the bear escaped. He
assured me it was not the grizzly, but the common kind.
The country from Red river to this mountain is one level
plain, without a hill or a stone. The grass would be rather
long were it not for the buffalo. On ascending the mountain,
the face of the country suddenly changes, the soil is
sandy, and stones are frequent. The ground is rough
deep wooded valleys and high barren hills are the principal
objects. From the brow of the mountain, at the foot of
which the building stands, there is a delightful view. On
the E. lies the large level plain, where there is not a stick
of wood to
be seen, excepting along Panbian river, which
runs in a serpentine course until it is lost to view far eastward.
We have also a glimpse of Tongue river to the S. E.,
running N. E. to join Panbian river. The land between
these two rivers is
partially wooded, forming a famous country
for moose and red deer. N. and S. the prospect is soon
terminated by rising grounds, partially wooded, but westward
the winding course of the Panbian is seen in a deep
valley for many miles, W. of which appears a blue wooded
ridge. Beyond this ridge the country is more level, and
there is no wood for several days' journey ; but the land
never sinks again to the level of that adjoining Red river,
Oct. 14th. A thick fog this morning, but cold, with heavy
frimas. Panbian river is here much broader than at its
mouth ; the bottom is sand, intermixed with a blue slaty
gravel and frequently large stones, like all the small rivers
which come from the Hair hills. Their first course is
through deep valleys, where the beds are almost choked
with stones. Then, on leaving the hills, the valleys end,