Camp 500 m. point

8 PM

B.26.71

T.66

Calm Clear

Odometer at noon halt 5000 Small swamp.

Odometer at 500 m. point (No.1 on sketch) 11235.

July 13. Saw a camp at some distance S.W. last night & this morning distinctly heard the drums of the U.S. call about dawn.

Left camp 6.45 A.M. & travelled about 12 m. Halted at a swamp till noon. Came on about 5 m. There being a stretch ahead of 12m. without water & that too far to go over today.

For 7 1/2 miles from last nights camp the road passes over the gently undulating prairie, which however becomes more markedly undulating westward & then terminates against the foot of an area of elevated & coteau like country. The latter which extends as far as we have yet gone consists of abruptly undulating hills often stony & with many small slews & swamps now mostly dry. Great numbers of buffalo recently killed strew the country & in some places still pollute the air. Half-breed & indian camping places are also frequently seen. Marked by circle of lodges. Bare places & heaps of ashes where fires have been. Also heaps of broken bones reduced to about the size of road metal which have been boiled to remove the fat for pemmican making. Piles of buffalo chips are also frequent. It is quite abundant & makes a good fire, especially with a little wood to start it. We depend entirely on it our cooking being now nearly 100 miles West of wood.

Camp 500 m. point 6.45 AM

B.26.74

T.60

Wind E.light Clear

Noon halt 12m.W.of 500m.point,

26.27

85

Wind SE.light Clear

Camp 171-2 m. W. of 500 m. point

8 PM

26.13

79

NNW gale.Part cldy

Odometer - 1920 U.S. road made this morning comes in from S.E.

2940" U.S. road turns off S.

1/2 m.further lt Galways track, (following Traders Road which here crosses) comes in frm S.E.

Here too Eastern edge of coteau like uplands.

4910Noon halt, Swamp.

7100Camp. Swamp, nearly dry.

No sections

July 14. Left camp by 6.30. Night has been exceedingly windy throughout, though clear & fine. Getting out to tighten up guys about 2 A.M. Saw the comet beautifully half enveloped in a faint auroral arch,