June 25, I860.] LATEST EXPLORATIONS IN BRITISH N. AMERICA. 231 



the Saskatchewan and issuing from Mount Murchison, which much 

 exceeds in size the one I described last year, and which I took the 

 liberty of naming after you along with its parent. 



Hoping to have soon the pleasure of seeing you again, 

 •I remain ever your most obedient servant, 



James Hector. 



P.S. I enclose a map of this territory, which I received from 

 General Harney. 



The Chairman said they could not have heard the statement of Captain 

 Palliser without being aware that he was exactly the sort of man to lead a 

 party through such a difficult region. The Duke of Wellington had left it 

 upon record as a first principle, that in order to advance through a country 

 with troops you must supply them well with food ; and they had only to hear 

 with what animation Captain Palliser spoke of the destruction he made among 

 the buffalo herds to feel satisfied that he had given every care to the Commis- 

 sariat department. He was accompanied by men of science, u})on whom 

 devolved the duty of making those detailed astronomical and geographical 

 observations which were the great object of the expedition. When all the 

 materials were laid before the public, they would be found replete with the 

 most valuable results. The astronomical positions were fixed by Mr. Sullivan ; 

 the magnetic observations by Lieut. Blakiston, and Dr. Hector acted as the 

 naturalist and geologist to the expedition. Dr. Hector ascended some of the 

 highest mountains, and as he was present he had to ask him two or three 

 questions. First — What was the extent of land in the great region of the 

 Saskatchewan, lying to the east of the Rocky Mountains, which was capable of 

 being colonised ? Secondly — The means of access into this region ? and, Thirdly 

 — What were the probabilities of rendering intercourse at some future time eas 

 and practicable between British Columbia and this great region ? 



Dr. Hector, in answer to the first question, said the whole amount of 

 country drained by the Saskatchewan and the Red River was about 155,000 

 square miles. Of this, about 80,000 square miles might be accounted of no 

 value at all, except that it might perhaps be used for the purposes of grazing, 

 if the remainder of the district were well settled up to it. This unfertile 

 country embraced the elbow of the Saskatchewan, the Q'Appelle River, down 

 to the boundary. Then there was a strip about forty miles in width at the 

 base of the Rocky Mountains, which again became fertile. The remaining 

 65,000 square miles was a portion of country lying along the north branch of 

 the Saskatchewan. It commenced at Carlton, and, stretching towards the 

 mountains, extended to about 52" n. The fine of it was not very regular, 

 and probably it was an isothermal line. The belt of country lying south of 

 the north branch of the Saskatchewan, and north of the 52nd parallel, swept to 

 the south-east, and was of exactly the same character, as regarded vegetation, as 

 was found in the Red River Settlement. Of these 65,000 square mi-les, there 

 was not above one-third which was suitable for the immediate purposes of 

 agriculture, and the cultivation of that one-third could be entered upon at 

 once with success, as it would not require the clearing necessary in Canada 

 and elsewhere. The distribution of good and bad country through the 

 Saskatchewan district was, in a great measure, determined by the geological 

 features of the country. There was a great ridge apparently to the east of the 

 district, which travelled in a more or less connected manner, passing to the 

 West of Cfrlton, crossing the Saskatchewan at the Eagle Hills, and extendino- 

 a little above the elbow of the south branch, giving rise to the idea of two 



