36 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

not so arctic. The immense snowfall on and immediately east of the
Coast Range, by retarding the advance of summer, succeeds in reversing
the effects which the vicinity of thé sea might be expected to produce.
It is also very probable, though no accurate observations have been
made on this point, that the mountains about Dean Inlet, receiving the
westerly and south-westerly winds from the Pacific, without the inter-
mediation of any high islands, have in consequence a greater rain and
snow fall than is usual even in this range. Our guide now confesses
that he has not been in this region since he was a very little fellow, and
the trail which we are supposed to be following is a very dim one, the
appearances being that this part of the country has been almost aban-

doned by the Indians. Jim has a good eye for country, however, and
seems almost by instinct to pick out the right way.

July 18.—After travelling a few miles, struck the old Indian trail,
which, though somewhat overgrown, saved us much trouble in chopping.
Followed the valley of the Tus-ul-ko pretty closely till we reached the
main Salmon River, a short distance above its junction with this stream,
and at the lower end of A-bun-tlut, the most northern of the Na-coont-
loon lakes. The country descends gradually toward the Salmon River,
but appears nearly flat. The soil is generally sandy and gravelly, dry and

Na-coont-loon
country.

ve varie erty: ae

poor; but swampy meadows, with good grass abound. Many moraine-like
heaps and ridges, running east and west, occur. Rocks of the Tertiary
volcanic series underlie the country. The Salmon River is here at an
elevation of 3,440 feet, and flows north-westward in a wide valley, from
which the gently sloping bases of the Tsi-tsutl and Il-ga-chuz Ranges

DR SNE TE Oo oe RNR SB UR ey coc ae ER

Salmon River.

rise, on the west and east sides respectively. Southward and south-east-
ward, the whole surface of the country appears low and fiat, with a level
sea-like horizon, but is probably at too great an elevation to render

agriculture possible. Soon after our arrival two Indians, father and son,
came into camp and informed us that several families were living for
the summer at Na-coont-loon Lake. We had been previously told that
all the Indians from this part of the country had moved down to the
Chilcoten River, under the priests’ directions.

: on en July 19.—Bowman went south-eastward on foot, under the guidance
. oe of one of our new friends, to Na-coont-loon Lake. Beyond A-bun-tlut
is a small lake called Nat-se-den-la, and at about seven miles from camp
: the Salmon River issues from the north end of Na-coont-loon Lake
proper, which is a wide sheet of water, probably over five miles long,

though the upper end, turning westward, was not seen.
July 20.—Ferried our stuff over the river on a raft, which we had