From the Pacific to Hudson's Bay. 295 



ecla River is met with, and some of the strongest rapids on the 

 Skeena are situated near the confluence of this river. From a point 

 above this to the Forks the current is less powerful. There is a small 

 Indian village near the mouth of the Kitseguecla, consisting of about 

 ten houses, and of quite modern style. " The Forks, or Hazelton, is 

 situated on the left bank of the Skeena, a short distance above the 

 junction of the Watsonkwa. It stands on an extensive flat elevated 

 ten or fifteen feet above the river, and at the base of a higher 

 terrace, which rises very steeply to a height of one hundred and 

 seventy feet. Two or three traders live here, and there is an Indian 

 village of about half-a-dozen barn-like buildings, each accom- 

 modating several families. The Indian village is quite new, and 

 there are no carved posts, though the people speak of erecting some 

 soon. The old village, where carved posts are still standing, is 

 about a quarter of a mile further down stream. The low region 

 about the Forks and wide valleys of the Skeena, Watsonkwa, and 

 Kispayox, seem to be shut in on all sides by high mountain 

 ranges." 



The Skeena country, or valley through which we have travelled 

 so far, may to some extent be called an agricultural country. On the 

 lower part of the river, with the exception of a few islands, there is 

 no good land. At about twenty-five miles below the Forks, however, 

 the higher terraces at the sides of the river, and a few hundred feet 

 above its level, extend in many places many miles back from it. 

 These plains contain excellent soil, consisting of a sandy loam with 

 a considerable mixture of vegetable matter. Eastward from the Forks 

 the valley and plateaus present the same characteristics, only that 

 the fertile areas are more extensive. Most of the rivers flowing into 

 the Skeena have more or less extensive valleys all well suited to 

 agriculture. 



The climate of the Skeena country, especially in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Forks, is similar to that of Montreal, except that the 

 winters are colder. Snow generally falls first in October but melts 

 again, the winter snow not coming until the middle of December. 

 The winter is in general steadily cold, similar in all respects to that 

 of Winnipeg except that there is always a thaw in February. Spring 



