OF THE FUR TRADE, &c. Ixxiii

Thofe horfes are diftin@lly employed as beafts of burden, and to chafe
the buffalo. The former are not confidered as being of much value,
as they may be purchafed for a gun, which cofts no more than twenty~
one pounds in Great-Britain. Many of the hunters cannot be pur~
chafed with ten, the comparative value, which exceeds the property of

any native.

Of thefe ufeful animals no care whatever is taken, as when they are
no longer employed, they, are turned Joofe winter and fummer to pro-
vide for themfelves. Here, it is to be obferved, that the country, in
general, on the Weft and North fide of this great river, is broken by
the lakes and rivers with fmall intervening plains, where the foil is good,
and the grafs grows to fome length. To thefe the male buffalos refort
for the winter, and if it be very fevere, the females alfo are obliged to

leave the plains.

- But to return to the route by which the progrefs Weft and North is
made through this continent.

We leave the Safkatchiwine * by entering the river which forms the
difcharge of the Sturgeon Lake, on whofe Eaft bank is fituated Cumber-
land houfe, in latitude 53. 56. North, longitude 102.15. The diftance
between the entrance of the lake and Cumberland houfe is eftimated at
twenty miles. It is very evident that the mud which is carried down by

_ * It may be proper to obferve, that the French had two fettlements upon the Safkatchiwine, long
before, and at the cenqueft of Canada; the firft at the Pafquia, near Carrot River, and the other at
Nipawi, where they had agricultural inftruments and wheel carriages, marks of both being found
about thofe eftablifhments, where the foil is excellent.

k the