e than any of them in
this sort of navigation, he was allowed habitually to occupy this post.
Lucien sat in the stern. He held in his hands a book and pencil; and as
the canoe glided onward, he was noting down his memoranda. The trees
upon the banks were in leaf--many of them in blossom--and as the little
craft verged near the shore, his keen eye followed the configuration of
the leaves, to discover any new species that might appear. There is a
rich vegetation upon the banks of the Red River; but the _flora_ is far
different from that which appears upon the low _alluvion_ of Louisiana.
It is Northern, but not Arctic. Oaks, elms, and poplars, are seen
mingling with birches, willows, and aspens. Several species of
indigenous fruit trees were observed by Lucien, among which were
crab-apple, raspberry, strawberry, and currant. There was also seen the
fruit called by the voyageurs "le poire," but which in English
phraseology is known as the "service-berry" (_Amelanchier ovalis_). It
grows upon a small bush or shrub of six or eight feet high, with smooth
pinnate leaves. These pretty red berries are much esteemed and eaten
both by Indians and whites, who preserve them by drying, and cook them
in various ways. There was still another bush that fixed the attention
of our young botanist, as it appeared all along the banks, and was a
_characteristic_ of the vegetation of the country. It was not over
eight feet in height, with spreading branches of a grey colour. Its
leaves were three inches wide, and somewhat lobed liked those of the
oak. Of course, at this early season, the fruit was not ripe upon it;
but Lucien knew the fruit well. When ripe it resembles very much a red
cherry, or, still more, a cranberry, having both the appearance and
acrid taste of the latter. Indeed, it is sometimes used as a substitute
for cranberries in the making of pies and tarts; and in many parts it is
called the "bush cranberry." The name, however, by which it is known
among the Indians of Red River is "_anepeminan_," from "_nepen_,"
summer, and "_minan_" berry. This has been corrupted by the fur-traders
and voyageurs into "Pembina;" hence, the name of a river which runs into
the Red, and also he name of the celebrated but unsuccessful settlement
of "Pembina," formed by Lord Selkirk many years ago. Both took their
names from this berry that grows in abundance in the neighbourhood. The
botanical appellation of this curious shrub is _Vib