THE PELLY RIVER 185 



his death, and thus preserved a precious account of his 

 career. 



In the '8o's, wandering prospectors were gradually 

 spreading over the Yukon Territory, and some of them 

 ascended the Pelly to prospect along its bars. 



It was not until 1887, however, when the late Dr. 

 George M. Dawson, the eminent Canadian geologist, nav- 

 igated the river from old Pelly Bank Post to the Lewes, 

 that a survey of the river was made and positive informa- 

 tion about it was published. 



Dr. Dawson and his party ascended the Stikine, pro- 

 ceeded down the Dease and up the Frances to Frances 

 Lake, crossed the divide, and after descending the Pelly 

 to its confluence with the Lewes, ascended the latter 

 river, and crossing the Chilkoot Pass, arrived at the head 

 of Lynn Canal September 20. 



The results of that exploration were published in a 

 report of such excellence and accuracy, that to my mind 

 it is not only a model of what such reports should be, 

 but has not since been equalled by any of the numerous 

 publications of explorations issued by the Geological Sur- 

 veys of either Canada or the United States. 



Not only are the topography, geology, climatic con- 

 ditions, and natural history, treated as fully as the limited 

 time on such a long journey would permit, but space is 

 also given to the history of the region and a discussion 

 of the Indian tribes inhabiting it. The accompanying 

 maps are complete and accurate.* 



In 1892, Warburton Pike ascended the Stikine, win- 



*See Appendix. 



