266 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



we imasrine, one of the most wonderful in the world. 

 Away as far as the eye can reach, north, south, and 

 west, are mountains packed behind mountains, sepa- 

 rated only by the narrowest valleys, most of them snow- 

 clad, and apparently stretching away to the Pacific. 



Althouorh we had crossed the main chain of the 

 Eocky Mountains, and were now in British Columbia, 

 we were surprised to find we were still really in the 

 midst of Eocky Mountains. For, in truth, the moun- 

 tains which rise like a wall from the prairies of the 

 eastern side extend to the western ocean. The exact 

 reverse of this view may be seen from the Bald 

 Mountain in Cariboo, and we were assured by Mr. 

 Fraser, of Victoria, who had visited both the Andes 

 and Himalayas, that nothing there could compare 

 Avith these hundreds of miles of mountains in British 

 Columbia. 



As there was very good pasturage for the horses, 

 w^e resolved to rest a day here, in order to thoroughly 

 overhaul our provisions, after their recent wettings, 

 and obtain what information we could from the Shush- 

 Avaps concerning our future course. The Indians 

 brought in a plentiful supply of the poire, wild pear, 

 or service berry, which we purchased for some needles 

 and thread. This fruit grows on a shrub, two or three 

 feet in height, with leaves resembhng that of a pear- 

 tree, but smaller, and it is said by the Hudson's 

 Bay people that wherever it flourishes wheat 

 will also grow to perfection. The berry is about 

 the size of a black currant, pear-shaped, and of deh- 

 cious sweetness and flavour. They are much used 

 by the Indians on both sides the mountains, who dry 



