66 CfiUlSE OF THE STEAMElt CORW'IN. 



birch which lines the shore. On the right side the shores were so low that I suspected the land 

 to be an island, and at 6 p. in. I discovered this to be a fact, as we arrived at the other end, where 

 the river is divided into two parts, forming an island of about ten miles in length. At 7 j). m. we 

 pitched our camp on the uortii ])()int of the island, having made 15i miles during the day. 



July 15, 1884. — At 4 a. m. called all hands and broke camp; had breakfast and got under way 

 at 5 a. in. At a. m. stopped iind cached the skill' on a point bearing cast from the camp, it being 

 thought nnadvisable 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 9 o'clock 

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

 gaze. Ou 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 l)y drooping willows and alder trees. 

 The mountains in this locality are from three to four thousand feet in height and lie parallel to the 

 river's course. At about noon we noticed a peculiar-looking blnff on the left bank and ran across 

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

 the beach we i)icUed up particles of coal which had evidetitly 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 bhiflf jutting into the water from the left side of the 

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

 With picks and shovels we made a vigorous attack on the sideof 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, bnt there is no doubt that coal of excellent quality is here in large quantities, super- 

 posed by a thin layer of inferior coal. The day was rainy and overcast throughout, so that I 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 mid-channel. At C.30 p. m. wo camped at a deserted Indian 

 village, having made twenty-eight miles during the day. Average temperature, !)()°. 



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

 clearing weather. At 9 a. in. the rain decreased sufficiently to allow us to pack our stores, and we 

 broke camp and proceeded up the river. Discovered large quantities of coal in tlie left bank, 

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

 bunkers, bnt upon trial the coal was found not to burn well, whether on account of its quality 

 or the fact that the clay adhering to it stopped up the draft I am unable to say. To day we 

 encouuteieil our first rapids ; the water rushed around the rocks bordering the left shores with great 

 velocity, and I crossed the river, hoping to find less current under the opposite bank. A slough 

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

 mistake nearly hist the lanncli. 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 s])it and she rolled over on her beam ends. All hands plunged 

 overboard and righted her, and we got her back by hard pushing and pulling to a safe anchorage. 

 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 i>ushed on up the river. Our progress, however, was very 

 slow, and we were compelled to stop many times on account of the lack of steam sufficient 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 much 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 re]>airing their nets preparatory for the rnn of salmon. They were very kind, 

 but did not have much to offer us in the way of game or fish. 



July 17, 1884. — When we awoke this morning the rain was pouring down in a steady stream, 

 and did notecase until 9 o'clock, when we got under way and stood uj) the river. A number of 

 natives had preceded us to a i)lace where suitabU^ wood could be obtained, and for a small quantity 

 of tobacco agreed to have sufllcient quantity 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 



