A PEEP AT THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 185 
mens brought home were obtained at Colville 
during the winter months; I also saw other very 
fine specimens in the possession of two Indians, 
in the Shimilkameen valley. It is found on the 
Spokan plains, and in the adjoining forests, on 
the Tobacco plains in the Kootanie district, and 
on the slopes of the Galton range of hills. 
The trail follows the eastern slope of the 
Galton mountains to the Flathead river, a good- 
sized stream. The Flathead valley is about 4,005 
feet above the sea-level, sandy and thinly tim- 
bered; such vegetation as there is, evidences a 
particularly dry climate. From this valley, 
after fording the stream, the ascent of the Rocky 
Mountains commences, a gradual incline through 
rather thick timber for some distance; then over 
a steep hill 6,970 feet above the sea, to descend 
its eastern slope and reacha glen. Wild and 
beautiful is the scenery on every side: right and 
left stupendous pinnacle-like hills, white with 
snow, seem to reach to the clouds; ridge follows 
ridge, each seeming to be more craggy and 
massive than its fellow, as far as the eye can 
scan this wondrous landscape. Aptly has this 
great central axis of elevation been named the 
Rocky Mountains; one is puzzled to imagine 
how such masses of rock could have been up- 
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