56 CKUISE OF THE STEAMER COltVVlN. 



birch wliich linos tlip shore. On the right side tlie shores were so low that I snspected (he land 

 to 1)1' an island, and at (J p. m. 1 discovered this to l)e a faet, as we arrived at the otiier end, where 

 the river is divided into two parts, foruiiug an island of al)Out ten miles in length. At 7 p. in. we 

 pitched oiircaiiip on the north point of the island, having made 15.J inile.s during the <]ay. 



July 15, 1884. — At i a. m. called all hands and broke camp; had breakfast and got under way 

 at 5 a. m. At G a. m. stopped and cached the skill" on a point bearing cast from the camp, it being 

 thought unadvisable to tow her any longer. The river gradually broadened, the bends were less 

 abrupt, and along the shores the current was not as strong as we advanced. At about !» cAlock 

 we found ourselves beyond the mountains at last, and a long view of the river was exposed to our' 

 gaze. On our left the mountains were about three thousand feet high and heavily timbered around 

 their bases, while at the water's edge the shore was fringed by drooping willows and alder trees. 

 The mountains in thisloc-ality are from three to four thousand feet in height ami lie parallel to the 

 river's course. At about noon we noticed a i)eculiar-looking blullon the left bank and ran across 

 the river to investigate. The bluflf itself was a species of carboniferous sandstone, and near it on 

 the beach we jiicked up particles of coal which had evidently not been floated very far, as they 

 were but little worn. Pursuing our journey and examining the banks for further evidences of 

 coal, we soon came in sight of a dark colored bhitl' jutting into the water from the left side of the 

 stream, and landing, discovered coal in large quantities and of fair quality lying on the surface. 

 With picks and shovels we made a vigorous attack on the side of the hill and soon had the bunkers 

 of the launch filled with coal, and once more we started ahead. It did not burn as freely as we 

 could wish, but there is no doubt that coal of excellent quality is here in large quantities, super- 

 l)0sed by a thin layer of interior coal. The day was rainy and overcast throughout, so that 1 did 

 not get any observation. The width of the river varied from five to nine hundred yards and sound- 

 ings from two to five fathoms in midchantiel. At G.30 p. m. we camped at a deserted Indian 

 village, having made twenty-eight miles during the day. Average temperature, 90°. 



July 16, 1884. — The day began with heavy rain and calm ; middle part cloudy, and ended with 

 clearing weather. At 9 a. m. the rain decreased sufficiently to allow us to i>a(tk our stores, and we 

 broke camp and i)roceeded up the river. Discovered large (piantities of coal in the led bank, 

 which was comi)osed of a beautiful white clay suitable for pottery. We landed and filled our 

 bunkers, but ui)on trial the coal was found not to burn well, whether on account of its (piality 

 or the fact that the clay adhering to it stoi)ped up the draft I am unable to say. Today we 

 encountered our first ra))ids ; the water rushed around the rocks bordering the left shores n ith great 

 velocity, and I crossed the river, boi)ing to find less current under the oi)posite bank. A slough 

 cut the bank in such a way that 1 thought the current must be less, but I was mistaken, and tlie 

 mistake neaily lost the launch. We attempted to cross the slough and get the shelter of the 

 opposite point, but when about half way across the steam suddenly went down and the current 

 bore the launch on to a gravel spit and she rolled over on her beam ends. All hands plunged 

 oveiboard and righted her, and W(> got her back by hard jinsliing and pulling to a safe anclmrage. 

 Finding the coal useless for our purposes we threw it out and loaded the boats with wood, and 

 after getting a good head of steam I got a line to the shore and every one, with the exception of 

 the fireman and myself, left the launch and assisted by hauling on the line. In this manner we 

 were enabled to get over the worst part of the rapids, and after the skin boat had been brought 

 over in charge of Mr. McLenegan we pushed on up the river. Our progress, however, was very 

 slow, and we were compelled to stop many times on account of the lac'k of steam sullicient to 

 stem the current. At 7.30 we arrived at an Indian fishing village, having made but .six miles up 

 stream. The river did not alter mucli in appearance or width, but the number of shoal places 

 increased and the channel was found to be more crooked in consequence. We found the natives 

 busily engaged in repairing their nets i)rei)aratory for the run of salmon. They were very kind, 

 but did imt have much to offer us in the way of game or fish. 



•July 17, 1X84. — When we awoke this morning the rain was pouring down in a steady stream, 

 and <lid notecase until 9 o'clock, when we got under way and stood u]> the river. A number of 

 natives liad i(rcce<led us to a place where suitable wood could be obtained, and for a small quantity 

 of tobacco agree<l to have sufficient (juantity of wood cut to last us through the day. Here I saw 

 a specimen of green stone which the Indians informed me had been obtained from the mountains 



