Volume 1

288 WHITE HORSE PLAINS.
or more above the Forks [Winnipeg]. The uncommonly
high water obliged us to make a raft to transport our baggage
and equipments to the N. side. One of our party, who
could not swim, we placed upon the raft, and set adrift.
William Henry and I, and the other man, took to the water
upon our horses. William, supposing himself an expert
swimmer, let go his horse, and nearly paid dear for his
imprudence ; a severe cramp took him in the feet, and it
Having all
was with much difificulty he reached the shore.
three got over, we left our horses to feed, whilst we went
down river in search of the raft, which the strong current
had carried much further than we supposed it would have
done, and it was some time before we could reach it. This
was very disagreeable. We were entirely naked, so that the
mosquitoes had their pleasure with us, and having no
was only with great pain that we could walk in the
shoes, it
sharp-pointed grass. We found the man on the raft waiting
for us, and lost no time in dressing.
Having saddled, we proceeded up the Assiniboine, our
course being about W. until eight o'clock, when we camped
at White Horse plains.'
the heat and bad roads.
Our horses were much fatigued by
We passed a very uncomfortable
night, hot and sultry, with clouds of mosquitoes which so annoyed
us that we took no supper. It was impossible to sit
3 " There is a tradition amongst the French half-breeds that the White Horse
Plain,
about 15 miles up the Assiniboine from Winnipeg, receives its name from
a white horse which roamed around in that district many years ago,
and which
could not be apprehended, though many persons had endeavored to capture
him. I received this tradition from a French trader some years ago when traveling
in the Saskatchewan country, but cannot vouch for its authenticity," Bell,
/. c. No doubt a white horse could run wild on these plains as well as any
others ;
but one who could vouch for the tradition might do the same for Death
on the pale horse, the headless horseman, the enchanted white fawn that could
only be killed with the magic bullet, and similar myths. The story probably
started in some aboriginal superstition or "medicine." The place is in the
vicinity of Headingly, a town on the N. bank of the Assiniboine, near where
the S. W, branch of the C. P. Ry. now crosses. The name is perpetuated in
White Plains, a station on the N. P. and Manitoba R. R. next above Headingly
sta., S. of the river.