31

usually open, are Douglas fir (Abies Douglassii) of medium size, and scrub pine (Pinns
contorta). Aspen, poplar, various willows, roses, and Shepherdia Canadensis form the
undergrowth. Solidagos and asters of several species abound ; also a castilleia (probably
C. pallida), Spiraea betulifolia, at this date nearly past flowering, Gentiana amarella,
Galium boreale, past flowering, and a delicate species of Astragalus. In the meadows,
in addition, appear Geranium Fremontii, Heuchera Richardsoni, and in some places
Geum triflorum. The flora shows in many points a marked resemblance to that of the
fertile region along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the 49th
parallel at a height of 4,000 feet, and the vegetation appeared to be at about the same
stage at a similar date in the two localities, comparing together the years 1874 and 1875.

“THE CHincotry VALLEY.

“A rapid descent is made from the plateau to the lower bench, on which Riske’s
farm is situated Its elevation is about 2,400 feet, but fine crops are produced with
irrigation. These lower terraces and valleys appear to be not only warmer but drier
than the plateau above and the vegetation changes considerably. Artemisia frigida and
A. Canadensis become abundant, and lynosyris, and here and there a stunted cactus
appear.

“From Riske Creek the trail passes south-westward across the plateau to the
northern bank of the Chilcotin Valley. The surface of the country is generally open
prairie and is clothed with bunch-grass, forming a fine grazing and stock-raising region,
for which purpose it is already partly occupied. At about nine miles from Riske’s the
highest part of the plateau is reached, and from thence it slopes slightly toward the
Chilcotin, affording a magnificent view south-westward. Beyond the deep Chilcotin
Valley, and rising gently in receding from it, the same plain is seen to stretch for many
miles, diversified with prairie and woodland. Then a bounding range of low hills, with
gentle slopes wooded to the summits, appear, beyond which the snow-clad peaks of the
Cascade or Coast Range Mountains are seen at a great distance.

** About seven miles beyond the point at which the trail first reaches the Chilcotin
Valley it leaves the plateau and goes down into the valley bottom, which it then follows.
Opposite the place of descent is a conspicuous mountain, apparently in great part com-
posed of limestone, which forms the southern side of the valley and rises toa considerable
height above the level of the plain. From this place to the junction with the Chilcotin
or Alexis Creek, fifteen miles, the valley has a pleasing appearance, being wide and
though in some places hummocky, with much level land, forming broad terraces at a
small height above the river. These are generally prairie-like and covered with bunch-
grass. The vegetation of the lower levels of the valley, as a whole, resembles that of
Riske Creek above mentioned. At Alexis Creek are a few Indian houses, and farming
on a very limited scale is attempted. On the night of August 25th a sharp frost was
experienced, and on the 27th the tops of the potatoes in the Indians gardens were
observed to be killed down. The area of cultivable land in this part of the Chilcotin
Valley may be about 7,000 acres. The plateau above the river is here generally densely
wooded, and the rim of the valley from a short distance above Alexis Creek, probably to
its junetion with the Fraser, is very definitely formed by almost continuous cliffs of
basalt.

“THE BuackwatER DistRIcr.

‘*The Blackwater, above its junction with the Nazco, carries probably four times
the volume of water of the latter stream, but is easily fordable in some places. The
united streams form a considerable river, which, turning abruptly from the former course
of the Blackwater, runs nearly north for about ten miles. The valley is wide and flat-
bottomed, with occassional grassy meadows, but in general well tmberedeay rae yee
seems, as a rule, to be steeper than the eastern bank, and the SiR wine s cout side oH
side, and occassionally cuts into both, showing a great pices of reun ec 2 ave
deposits. A deep valley, with a string of lakes and ponds, fo Susie y peal elite
the river, a short distance west of it, for some miles, and though now largely filled with
drift material, has the appearance of being the former channel of the miRer

“The blueberry ( Vaceinium sp.) and white birch, seen rarely, if at all, sce Lens
the immediate neighbourhood of the Cascade Mountains, were again met with in some
abundance near the mouth of the Nazco. =