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REPORT BY GEORGE M. DAWSON. 29

being commingled with occasional aspens. The balsam spruce (Adies
lesiocarpa) appears abundantly, while the scrub pine attains a greater
size than it has elsewhere been observed to do, and Abies Engelmanni
often surpasses three feet in diameter, and reaches a great height. Another
species of pine (Pinus albicaulis,) was noticed, though rarely. The
hemlock (Abies Mertensiana) appears, and at the fall shrubby representa-
tives of the giant cedar (Thuja gigantea). Among the plants constitut-
ing the undergrowth, the elder (Sambucus pubens) and devil’s club
(Echinopanaz horrida) were new features, the whole probably indicating
not so much a milder as a damper climate.

From Salmon River Crossing to the Salmon House, northern edge of Bella
Coola Valley and Na-coont-loon.—Returning now to the Indian crossing
of the Salmon River, mentioned on a former page, I shall describe the
country from that place to the Salmon House, and next that southward
to the Bella Coola Valley.

On arriving at the crossing place on July 7th, we found all the Indians
of this part of the country collected there, on their way down to their
annual fishery at the Salmon House. They may have been from fifty to
sixty in number, this representing the population of a tract extending
beyond Lake Tschich northward, and nearly to Cluscus Lakes eastward ;
or about 2,500 square miles of surface. Here I parted from Mr. Cambie,
who continued eastward on his way to Quesnel, my own party now
consisting, besides myself, of A. Bowman, assistant, one Mexican packer,
and one Lillooet Indian packer and cook. Some of the Indians were
engaged to assist in building a raft, which was speedily accomplished,
and before dark our camp equipage and provisions were ferried over, the
animals crossing a short distance below in a small rapid, without losing
bottom. The Indians were not slow to take advantage of the raft which
they had been paid to make, and following us to the south bank, made
their camp much closer to ours than might have been wished.

July 8.—Travel by the trail south-westward to Tanyabunkut Lake
(more correctly; Tai-a-taisli-bun-kut). Heavy rain in the afternoon and
bad trail, the mules miring down several times, and there being two
bridges to repair before they could be crossed. Passed the Indians on
the march, every man, woman and child, and even the dogs, with packs
of appropriate size. All appear to be in good spirits, and on the way to
their great annual holiday-making, the Salmon fishery, the whole
scene much resembling that described by Sir A. Mackenzie, who travelled
part of this very road with the Indians on the way to their fishery, on
the 15th July, 1793.

Scanty Indian
population.

Cross Salmon
River.