No. 3.] ANDERSON — NORTH-WESTERN AMERICA. 145 



of lakes terminating in Split Lake, is necessarily very gradual ; 

 thence, consequently, to its mouth the Nelson rushes with great 

 impetuosity. It is owing to the series of rapids thus formed 

 that the navigation of the lower parts is avoided ; and the ordi- 

 nary boat route from York Factory to Lake Winnipeg is through 

 Hayes' River and its connected waters, and over the divide by 

 portage, striking the waters of Lake Winnipeg below Norway 

 House. Thence to Edmonton on the Saskatchewan there are 

 no impediments to the navigation of any moment, save the Coles' 

 Rapids, near the confluence of the north and south branches, 

 some twelve miles in length, which are navigable with care and 

 skill, and the Grand Rapid near the mouth, where the river 

 bursts through the ridge of limestone which forms the north- 

 western boundary of Lake Winnipeg. The Saskatchewan 

 becomes free from ice about the same time as the Peace River ; 

 but the navigation from Edmonton is rarely attempted before 

 the middle of May, when the waters have usually risen enough to 

 float the loaded bateaux over the frequent shoals. Much of 

 what has been said of the Peace River might be repeated of 

 this region. The vegetation has the same general characteristics, 

 and the climate is not dissimilar. Of minerals it may be re- 

 marked that coal has been discovered in thick seams in the vicinity 

 of Edmonton ; and Mr. Selwyn is of opinion that, by boring, 

 the seams may be struck at a small depth at various points, at 

 least as low as Carlton near the confluence of the two branches. 

 I may here incidentally mention that both at Edmonton and 

 at Carlton the development of goitre in the permanent 

 residents is not uncommon. At the last mentioned post I 

 have seen a whole family thus afflicted — the children exhibiting 

 the marks of advanced cretinism. I am induced to think that the 

 constant use of the river water, which is extremely turbid for 

 the greater part of the year, without filtering or other prepara- 

 tion, is the proximate cause of this affliction, which does not 

 attack the roving population, who are not confined to the use of 

 the river water. The digging of wells, in such case, suggests 

 the obvious remedy. I may add that I arrive at the conclusion 

 stated the more readily, because that on Peace River, where the 

 evil is also manifested in less marked degree, I have known a 

 family who had partially contracted the disease during a long 

 residence at Fort Vemilion, to entirely recover after a compara- 

 tively short residence at McLeod's Lake, at the head of Peace 



