318 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS- AMERICA. [May 23, 1859. 



ment than they could be to geographers and naturalists. The 

 great object was to determine the capabiJity of establishing an 

 intercourse between the rocky region of Lakes Superior and Winni- 

 peg on the east and the rich prairie countries on the west ; and 

 though astronomical, physical, and magnetical observations of con- 

 siderable importance were made — these countries being to a great 

 extent known before, and their outlines being monotonous — that 

 portion of the survey created but slight interest among us. 



Not so when the Eocky Mountains, to which we had specially 

 directed attention, came to be surveyed.* On proceeding from Fort 

 Carlton, Palliser showed his good sense in approaching these moun- 

 tains from the rich Buffalo prairies midway between the Korth and 

 South Saskatchewan. An experienced buffalo-hunter himself, he 

 knew that if his men were not well supplied, by no efforts, how- 

 ever well directed, could they succeed. Accordingly, having esta- 

 blished a good base, and having secured abundant provisions at 

 Slaughter Creek, he divided his force into three parties. Leading 

 one of these himself across the Kananaski Pass, and returning by 

 the Kutanie Pass in north latitude 49J°, and directing Captain 

 Blakiston to explore the still more southerly or Boundary Pass, he 

 sent Dr. Hector to traverse the chain by the Vermilion Pass, and to 

 explore, as a geologist and naturalist, the much loftier mountains 

 into which the chain rises in its trend to the n.n.w. This division 

 of his forces well merited, therefore, the expressions used in the 

 award which has been sanctioned by the Council. 



The marked success of the survey accomplished by my young 

 friend Dr. Hector has been peculiarly gratifying to me, inasmuch as 

 I had answered for the capacity he would exhibit in applying his 

 scientific knowledge. Thus, in addition to the determination of 

 latitude, longitude, and the altitude of the mountains and two of 

 their passes. Dr. Hector presents us with a sketch of the physical 

 and geological structure of the chain, with its axis of slaty subcrys- 

 talline rocks, overlaid by limestones of Devonian and carboniferous 

 age, and flanked on the eastern face by carboniferous sandstone, 

 representing, probably, our ov^ti coal-fields, the whole followed by 

 those cretaceous and tertiary deposits which constitute the subsoil 

 of the vast and rich prairies watered by the North and South Sas- 

 katchewan and their affluents. His observations on the erratic or 

 drift phenomena are also curious and valuable. 



* Dr. Hector had, by directions of his chief, made a successful foray in dog-sledges 

 to the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains during the winter, in which he procured 

 men and horses. 



