1899] Weston — Notes on a Geological Trip. 181 



\ng to the endogenous family. They have been carefully pressed in 

 nature's story-book, and are as perfect as when they fell in those 

 bygone ages, before the probably 20,000 feet of rock, which has 

 been formed since, covered them ; in those ages when the gigantic 

 saurians roamed these plains. But we leave this interesting spot 

 where we have obtained some good photographs and bagged many 

 fine specimens of the fossil flora of these rocks, and hasten back 

 to the Mackenzie farm where soon alt our traps are on board. We 

 have divided our camp equipment in case of accidents, which may 

 happen at any time while navigating this rapid stream. Reid — a 

 sturdy half-breed who has had much rough experience on some of 

 our Ontario lakes and rivers — is to take the lightest of our two 

 boats and during the journey to take the lead, while Mackenzie 

 and I are to follow. It is 2 p.m. on a lovely June afternoon when 

 we step aboard our rudely made craft and loosen them from their 

 moorings. The current here is very swift, and the moment our 

 boats are loose they glide swiftly down the stream and in a few 

 minutes we are in one of the most dangerous bits of navigation 

 we shall probably encounter. It is what is locally known as the 

 canon. High and in places scarped banks come close to the 

 margin ot the river forming a deep gorge through which a large 

 body of water rushes over and between quartzite and other 

 boulders. It is a dangerous spot, and I hold my breath as a large 

 wave dashes our boat against a projecting rock, but fortunately 

 little injury is done, and our boat shoots stern first through the 

 remainder of these turbulent waters, and soon we are out of the 

 canon and gliding over a series of light rapids. 



Below this the valley is open and patches of large spruce 

 occupy the sides of the stream, while in other spots poplar, grey 

 willow and other trees form dense shelters for the many wild 

 animals which still inhabit this section of the Northwest. Open 

 patches and wooded lands continue till we reach Tail Creek, town- 

 ship 37, range 24, west of the fourth initial meridian, District of 

 Alberta. We have no v reached a most important economic 

 localty, for here are high banks of Lignite coal. The top beds 

 are partly obscured by drift deposits or land slides. Taking the 

 various seams— the thickest of which is about eighty feet — there 

 is a depth of forty-five to fifty feet seen above the level of the 



