140 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. Vlii. 



century a general pacification of the hitherto hostile tribes took 

 place, a treaty of amity having been concluded at the spot since 

 known as Peace Point. Hence the name of La Riviere a la 

 Paix, now translated into " Peace River," given to the stream 

 by the first explorers. Its original name, however, is Unjigah,. 

 the signification of which, if haply it have a signification, I 

 have never been able to ascertain. The whole extent of country 

 through which this noble river flows, from the point where it 

 breaks through the Rocky Mountains (vide supra) to its junc- 

 tion with the Athabasca, is very attractive, and a vast area for 

 future settlement is presented. The want of space will prevent 

 my dwelling on the charming features exhibited by this beauti. 

 ful region ; and I merely remark that its general characteristic is 

 that of extensive plains, stretching on either side clear up to the 

 foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains and their several spurs, and 

 amid which groups of aspens, &c, are picturesquely interspersed. 

 With reference to the climate of this portion of the country, the 

 mere consideration of latitude would, if entertained, mislead the 

 uninformed enquirer very gravely. A glance at the isothermal 

 lines will show that leaving the Atlantic coast they trend 

 abruptly northward till they reach the vicinity of the Rocky 

 Mountains ; and finally the actual difference of the mean tem- 

 perature as between positions on the Atlantic and the Pacific, 

 may be stated in approximate terms as about ten degrees Fahren- 

 heit in favour of the latter. Hence the denizens of the Peace 

 River country and the Saskatchewan enjoy a climate far more 

 genial than might be supposed. The confined space at my dis- 

 posal prevents my entering upon any prolonged discussion of 

 this interesting theme, to which, however, I may again inciden- 

 tally refer. I content myself by remarking that the snow, in 

 most parts, seldom accumulates to a greater depth than eighteen 

 inches on the levels, the warm south-west winds, of frequent 

 recurrence during the winter, at once diminishing it, or at times 

 removing it almost entirely from all the lower land. The river 

 opens about the 25th of April, and is closed for navigation at the 

 beginning of November. I shall here, however, avail myself of 

 the valuable notes of Professor J. C. Macoun, drawn from the 

 railway reports and other sources. At Fort Vermilion on* 

 the 6th of August (1875), lat 56°. 42', barley ripe and cut y 

 and on the 12th wheat and oats fit for reaping. At Fort 

 McMurray at the forks of the Athabasca, an excellent garden 



