No. 3.] ANDERSON — NORTH-WESTERN AMERICA. 139 



&c. In addition to the many kinds of migratory water-fowl that 

 resort to these localities to breed, the white G-rouse or Ptarmigan 

 (Lagopus albus) appears abundantly as a permanent resident, 

 as indeed along the whole Arctic watershed and the shores of 

 Hudson's Bay. The White-fish (Coregonus), several varieties 

 of Carp, Trout, and other fish, including the Inconnu (probably 

 grayling, Thymallus signifer, of Richardson ?), are common to 

 the stream and its tributaries. The Pike also is found, but no 

 Salmon ascend this river ; which in this respect forms probably 

 the solitary exception among all the larger streams from Cali- 

 fornia upwards to this point. For the deficiency of this valu- 

 able fish there is no apparent cause ; nor does there seem to exist 

 any reason why it should not be artificially introduced at some 

 future day. Higher up, as we approach the discharge of the 

 Great Bear Lake, the evidences of an improving climate appear. 

 The Service-berry (Amelanchier), the Wild Gooseberry and other 

 fruits are common ; the country throughout is well timbered, 

 chiefly with varieties of fir and pine ; and a greater variety of 

 beasts of the chase, including the Moose, the Beaver, &c, appear. 

 Little has been ascertained of the mineral characteristics of the 

 lower Mackenzie ; but Sir Alex. Mackenzie, whose name it 

 bears, mentions a seam of coal (or lignite ?) which was on fire 

 when he passed in 1789 ; and which was noticed by Dr. Rich- 

 ardson, still in a state of ignition, as late as the year 1848. 

 Upon the heads of the Riviere aux Liards, an extensive tribu- 

 tary joining from the southward, productive gold-beds have been 

 wrought for the last three years ; and here, within the limits of 

 British Columbia, under the name of " Cassiare," a settlement 

 has been formed in connexion with this alluring, if precarious, 

 industry. This river, it may be mentioned, derives its name 

 from the profusion along the banks of its lower portion, of the 

 Cotton-Wood Poplar (Liard = Pojmlus balsamifera.) It is 

 needless to add that in the mouths of the many, the name has 

 already been wonderfully transformed. 



Peace River. — The lower portion of this tributary of the 

 Mackenzie, after its junction with the Athabasca, where it is 

 upwards of a mile in breadth, is known as the Slave River ; a 

 name originating with the Cree Indians, who applied. the desig- 

 nation (Awah-can, or slave) in derision of the lower Chipewy- 

 ans, who were formerly treated by them as enemies, and whom 

 they had driven from their lands. Towards the end of the last 



