The Saskatchewan at Edmonton is clear in the winter and also in the summer except during the May and July floods.  This distance from the Rocky Mountains (which I suppose to be of primitive formation) is upwards of one hundred and thirty miles.  The neighbouring plains are alluvial, the soil is calcareous and contains numerous travelled fragments of limestone.  At a considerable distance below Edmonton the river, continuing its course through the plains, becomes turbid and acquires a white colour.  In this state it is drunk by the inmates of Carlton House where the disease is known only by name.  It is said that the inhabitants of Rocky Mountain House, sixty miles nearer the source of the river are more severely affected than those at Edmonton.  The same disease occurs near the sources of the Elk and Peace Rivers; but in those parts of the country which are distant from the Rocky Mountain Chain it is unknown although melted snow forms the only drink of the natives for nine months of the year.

A residence of a single year at Edmonton is sufficient to render a family bronchocelous.  Many of the goitres acquire great size.  Burnt sponge has been tried and found to remove the disease but an exposure to the same cause immediately reproduces it.

A great proportion of the children of women who have goitres are born idiots with large heads and the other distinguishing marks of cretins.  I could not learn whether it was necessary that both parents should have goitres to produce cretin children:  indeed the want of chastity in the half-breed women would be a bar to the deduction of any inference on this head.

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DEPARTURE FROM CARLTON HOUSE.

February 8.

Having recovered from the swellings and pains which our late march from Cumberland had occasioned we prepared for the commencement of our journey to Isle a la Crosse, and requisitions were made on both the establishments for the means of conveyance and the necessary supply of provisions for the party which were readily furnished.  On the 9th the carioles and sledges were loaded and sent off after breakfast; but Mr. Back and I remained till the afternoon as Mr. Prudens had offered that his horses should convey us to the encampment.  At three P.M. we parted from our kind host and, in passing through the gate, were honoured with a salute of musketry.  After riding six miles we joined the men at their encampment which was made under the shelter of a few poplars.  The dogs had been so much fatigued in wading through the very deep snow with their heavy burdens, having to drag upwards of ninety pounds’ weight each, that they could get no farther.  Soon after our arrival the snow began to fall heavily and it continued through the greater part of the night.

Our next day’s march was therefore particularly tedious, the snow being deep and the route lying across an unvarying level, destitute of wood except one small cluster of willows.  In the afternoon we reached the end of the plain and came to an elevation on which poplars, willows, and some pines grew, where we encamped, having travelled ten miles.  We crossed three small lakes, two of fresh water and one of salt, near the latter of which we encamped and were in consequence obliged to use for our tea water made from snow which has always a disagreeable taste.