clearings from 7 to 10 acres each. About 45 houses have been built altogether.
Settlers not very prosperous as yet, for lack of money to develop holdings. The settle-
ment is well supplied with steamboat communication, roads and wharves. The settlers
have first-rate log houses, but, so far, have little or nothing to sell, although a fairly good
market exists. The last house is at the crossing referred to. The valley extends for 15
or 20 miles further on ; it is about 41 miles from the mouth of the river to the divide at
the top of the mountain. There would be no difficulty in bringing a railway down
through the pass. .

_ duly 24th—Started by mountain trail in a northerly direction over a zigzag, steep
trail for 5 miles. There is plenty of grass on the summit of the mountain, where we
camped all night. The trail is very steep and rocky for some three miles before reaching
the summit ; it is good the balance of the way to the creek, which flows into Salmon
River, 5 miles further on. Still in grass and lots of it. ;

“ July 26th.—Went 20 miles, the first 10 miles through a good grazing country,
well watered and fairly level. The last 10 miles were rocky and dry. Camped at south
end of Takia Lake, in which there is plenty of trout. There is a large meadow at the
south end of it, probably 185 acres in extent. ‘

“July 28th.—Went 15 miles and reached Salmon River. Crossed over good
meadows, in one of which there is about 125 acres, and passed, where timber had been
burnt, some good grazing country, fairly level. Where we forded the Salmon River it
was 3 feet deep and about 250 feet wide. Could hear sounds of rapids and was told by
the Indians that there were quite large falls near-by on the river, but did not see them.

* July 29th.—Went about 8 miles to Elkatcho, an Indian village, where a reserve
has been surveyed. A trail branches off from here east to Chilcotin. We are now
fairly in the interior plateau. To the south-east is Anaham’s Peak, a perfect cone about
9,000 feet high. It is said by the Indians to be wholly composed of jade, and in former
times the Indians came to it from all quarters to get the rock, out of which to make
arrow and spear heads. It is scattered all along the road in evidence of this statement.
Four miles farther on, near Kwalcho Lake, we camped for the night. Between Salmon
River and Elkatcho we came through some nice-looking, but wet, meadows. After
leaving Elkatcho, struck no more grass grazing land or meadows until we reached Tschic
Lake, 10 miles further on; it is all timber and brulee; soil no good. From the north
end of Tschic Lake a stream runs in a north-easterly direction, along which a broad
meadow extends to Entiako Lake. This meadow is about one-half mile wide and 8 or
10 miles long. Several large beaver dams were seen along the stream.

“On the following day (July 31st) we went through a worthless country as far as
Tetabunket, 10 miles; reached Teta-chuck River, flowing out of Teta-chuck Lake, +
miles. Crossed the river about half a mile from where it enters Nalalkuz Lake. The
river here is about 150 yards wide and from 5 to 10 feet deep, and runs with a very
rapid current. After crossing Teta-chuck River, came 5 miles to crossing of Ku-chue
River through fine grazing country.

« Sucust Ist—Swam our horses across the river and followed the trail along the
north side of Eu-Chue Lake for 8 miles; the trail runs on the side of the hill. There
is plenty of grass in the open and among the timber, the pasture land extending about
a mile north of the lake. A small river flows into the west end of the lake, and a con-
siderable extent of meadows border the river. The trail now runs in a north-easterly
direction and follows the valley of a small creek, which drains a small lake in a north-
westerly direction from Eu-Chue Lake.

« Anoust 2nd—Went in a northerly direction 6 miles to the crossing of Eutsha
River, which here is 200 yards wide and very deep, and reached the west end of Ches-
lahta Lake that night. The trail passed through splendid grass-grazing lands. The
following few days we prospected the country about here. On August 3rd, went to
Ootsa Lake and passed through a good deal of open country covered with the richest of
grass. The timber is mostly poplar, spruce and pine. . ; A

“The country round the west end of Cheslahta Lake is a splendid grazing country:
but not of large extent. On the tops of the hills near the lake is an abundance of pea-
vine to be found and other nutritious grasses. In some of the open spots is a species of
bunch-grass. There is room here for several good ranches. From the west end of Ches-

lahta Lake for 30 miles, bordering on Ootsa Lake, is a tract of at least 115,000 acres of
good grazing land, a large pere
of it is loamy soil.
but wherever poplar occurs there is good grass, mostly pea-vine.

entage of which is suitable for agriculture ; a good deal
The country between that and Francais Lake is mostly timbered,
lhe trail from Ootsa