35 



2. Area west of tbe Lewes and Yukon rivers and extending to 

 the boundary of Alaska, 32,000 square miles, or somewhat larger than 

 Ireland. This country includes the head-waters of the White and pro- 

 bably of the Tanana rivers, and, being comparatively low and sheltered 

 from the sea by one of the highest mountain ranges on the continent, 

 the St. Elias Alps, doubtless possesses some remarkable peculiarities of 

 climate. 



3. Area between the Lewes, Pelly and Stikine rivers and to the 

 east of the Coast Ranges, 27,000 square miles, or nearly as large as 

 Scotland. This has been penetrated only by a few " prospectors" from 

 whom, and from Indians, the courses of rivers shown on my maps pub- 

 lished in connection with the Yukon Expedition Report are derived. 

 It lies on the direct line of the metalliferous belt of the Cordillera, and 

 its low lands are capable of producing hardy crops. 



4. Area between the Pelly and Mackenzie Rivers, 100,000 square 

 miles, or about twice the size of England. This belongs partly to the 

 Yukon basin and partly to that of the Mackenzie, and includes nearly 

 600 miles in length of the main Rocky Mountain Range. Many years 

 ago, Mr. A. K. Isbister penetrated the northern part of this area for 

 some distance on the line of the Peel River,* but, owing to the manner 

 in which he had to travel, but little accuracy can be attributed to his 

 sketch of that river. Abbe Petitot also made a short journey into its 

 northern part from the Mackenzie River side, but with these excep- 

 tions, no published information exists respecting it. 



5. Area between Great Bear Lake and the Arctic coast, 50,000 

 square miles, or about equal to England in size. Nearly all to the 

 north of the Arctic circle. 



6. Area between Great Bear Lake, the Mackenzie and the western 

 part of Great Slave Lake, 35,000 square miles, or larger than Portugal. 

 With respect, to this region and that last mentioned, it must be explained 

 that I have felt some doubt whether they should be characterized 

 as unexplored on the basis previously explained as that which is gener- 

 ally applied. Between 1857 and 1865, Mr. R. Macfarlane, of the 



*Some account of Peel River, North America, by A. K. Isbister, Journ. Roy. 

 Geog. Soc, vol. xv., 1345, p. 332. „- — i « 



c 



