THE VERENDRYE EXPLORATIONS

91 I left on the 26th. My old man asked me to remain a few days with the Crees, who urgently asked him to re- main with them and that he would rejoin me shortly. As he had his vehicle I consented willingly, and recom- mended him to encourage these people to hunt well, to carry provisions to the French forts and to keep their word not to go to the English. He told me that he would speak to them as well as he could, and that he hoped I would be satisfied. I found the water very low, there having been no rain last summer. The river flows from the west, winding about greatly, wide, with a strong cur- rent and many sand bars; it is lined with fine woods on the banks and the prairies extend beyond sight, through whose extent are many cattle and deer. I chose to go by land, following the prairie; with the useless people in the canoes. The road is much shorter by the prairies; several points of the river are cut at once, and a straight road can be kept; game is along the river in great abund- ance. I had not marched long without meeting several As- siniboines, who, having been warned that I was ascend- ing their river, came to meet me. I still kept on my road, deferring to speak to them on their own lands. The com- pany was increasing daily. I marched six days, making good use of the time. On the evening of the 2nd of Oc- tober the Indians notified me that I could not ascend the river further, the water being too low; that my canoes could only pass the woods, provided all the people were at the portage 7 which goes to the Lake of the Prairies 8 , for this is the road of the Assiniboines in going to the English. 9 Being here thou wilt stop everyone; thou wouldest go to the Mandans; thou art close to the road. I consulted what we should do, believing that we were about sixty leagues from the fork by water and about 7 Site of present city of Portage la Pr.airie. 8 Lake Manitoba. 9 At Hudson's Bay.