A PLEASANT CAMP. 315 



Boundary-line, was along the low and compara- 

 tively flat land intervening between the seaboard 

 and the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Our 

 camp was on the Sumnss prairie, and was in 

 reality only an open patch of grassy land, through 

 which wind numerous streams from the moun- 

 tains, emptying themselves into a large shallow 

 lake, the exit of which is into the Eraser by a 

 short stream, the Sumass river. 



In May and June this prairie is completely 

 covered with water. The Sumass river, from 

 the rapid rise of the Fraser, reverses its course, 

 and flows back into the lake instead of out of it. 

 The lake fills, overflows, and completely floods 

 the lower lands. On the subsidence of the 

 waters, we pitched our tents on the edge of a 

 lovely stream. Wildfowl were in abundance; 

 the streams were alive with fish ; the mules and 

 horses revelling in grass kneedeep we were in 

 a second Eden ! 



We had enjoyed about a week at this delightful 

 camp, when the mosquitos began to get rather 

 troublesome. We knew these most unwelcome 

 visitors were to be expected, from Indian infor- 

 mation. I must confess I had a vague suspicion 

 that the pests were to be more dreaded than we 

 were willing to believe ; for the crafty redskins 



