REPORT BY GEORGE M. DAWSON. 45

westward to Frazer Lake and eastward down the Nechacco, is generally
level, or but gently undulating, and more fertile in appearance than any
land before seen on the line of route followed. It is based on the very
fertile white silts of the Lower Nechacco basin, with only occasional low
ridges with gravel and boulders, which may belong to the underlying
boulder-clay. Open groves and scattered park-like clumps of aspen
poplars, with occasional areas of thicker woods, formed of scrub pine,
alternate with meadows and open land, which is covered with a fine
growth of natural grasses, wild pea and vetch. (See Plate V.) The
slopes bear thickets of the service berry (Amulanchier Canadensis), which
were covered with fine fruit in great profusion. On our way to Fort
Fraser by the old Telegraph Trail, we found numerous families of
Indians at work harvesting the berries, which we were told were more
than usually abundant this year. They were fully ripe at the end of
August. Near Fort Fraser, the choke-cherry (Prunus Virginiana) appears
in some places on sunny northern banks, with the service berry; and
it may here be mentioned that it was also found in similar localities
on Frangois Lake, and near Fort St. James on Stuart Lake.

On arriving at Fort Fraser I found myself, owing to the time occupied
in the difficult country between Gatcho Lake and that point, too
late to keep my appointment with Mr. Cambie, who had left some days
before. Through the kindness of My. Alexander, in charge of the
Hudson Bay Post, I was able, however, to obtain a re-supply of the more
necessary provisions—there being, fortunately, sufficient flour and tea in
the store——the loan of a fish-net, and a suitable dug-out canoe, with two
Indians. Hiring an Indian boy to assist the packer, I sent him back for
supplies to Blackwater Depot with such of the animals as were fit to
travel, while we set out by water to examine Fraser and Frangois Lakes
in which, fourteen days were occupied. A general description of these
lakes and the country in their vicinity will be given.

Broadly viewed, Frangois and Fraser Lakes occupy the western portion
of a depression, nearly coinciding with the fifty-fourth parallel of latitude.
The upper part of the Nechacco—which we had followed in our former
journey—reaching this depression from the south, immediately adopts it
as its course, and receiving at its angle the stream from the two great
lakes, flows almost directly eastward to the Fraser River at Fort George.
The original cause, or mode of formation of this depression, I have not
been able to determine, but it is paralleled by others of a similar charac-
ter making important features in the topography of the country.

Fraser Lake (Nau-tley of the Indians) is about twelve miles in

Appearance of
country about
Ta-chick Lake.

Arrangements
for expedition to
Frangois Lake.

Valley of
Frangois and
Fraser Lakes.