REPORT BY GEORGE M. DAWSON. 31

—here enters the Salmon River from the east, an area of comparatively
low ground, in shape nearly an equilateral triangle, lying at the junc-
tion of the streams. The apex of the triangle, pointing down stream,
is occupied by a little rocky hill, while the remainder, elevated about
100 feet above Salmon River, is a gravelly flat, descending by several
rough steps on the Tahyesco side. Making the descent of about 500

feet by a very steep and critical trail, forming a succession of sharp

zig-zags, we reached the flat by four o'clock.
The rocks of this vicinity are chiefly very hard felsites, and porphy-

, rites, of the Mesozoic volcanic series, tilted to a vertical attitude, and

traversed by dykes of granite. The river is exceedingly rapid and tur-
bulent, and is hemmed in by rugged cliffs, which, however, do not form
a canon of great depth. From the'edges of the cliffs the mountains rise
in rough slopes of greater or less inclination to a height of probably

8,000 feet.

There are two Indian houses here, one on each side of the Salmon
River, opposite a small waterfall, at which the natives make their
annual fishery. A precarious bridge of poles,and sticks is constructed
across the torrent, and a series of baskets arranged along the front of
the fall, into which, in trying to leap up, the salmon drop. Two Indians,
who had attached themselves to us so far, appeared much disappointed
at the height of the water and consequent absence of fish. They told
me that long ago the bridge used to remain always, but now that the
rock in the middle of the stream, on which it is partly founded, had
become so much reduced in size, that the structure is washed away every
winter.

At the Salmon House the Douglas fir, which does not appear east of
this over a considerable tract of country, is again scen as a large tree.
There are a few modern Indian graves on the flats, and three small heaps

of stones, probably also sepulchral, to which superstitious stories attach,

and an offering of a twig is made by each passer-by.

July 11.—Took three photographs and then hurried back to the place
where we had left the mules. Got them packed, and returned by the
trail to the lower end of Tanyabunkut Lake. Here we found the tribe
of Indians, waiting till a favorable report should be received fromthe
Salmon House. I had learned by cross-questioning the Indians, that a
trail, which was sometimes travelled, existed from this place to Na-coont-
loon Lake, south of the Salmon River. This I was anxious to examine,
but found it very difficult to procure a guide, partly from reluctance to
hard work among the Indians, and partly also, I think, from, the fact

Indian salmon
fishery.

Re-appearance
of Douglas fir.

Old trail to
Na-coont-loon.