From the Pacific to Hudson's Bay. 301 



River to Hudson's Hope. North of the Siccanies and towards the 

 coast are the Na-ha-nies, who are said to speak a different dialect, 

 while the Indians still further north, about Cassiar, are said to be 

 again different. The Na-taw-tin, or people of Babine Lake, number 

 about 300. The Na-kas-le-tln, or people of Stuart Lake, are divided 

 as follows : — Villages at Fort St. James, 75 ; at Pinchi River, 40 ; 

 at Tache River, 32. At Grand Rapid, ten miles up the Tache, are 

 the Kus-che-o-tin, now numbering 22 souls ; at Stony Creek, south 

 of the Nechaco, are the Ta-tshik-o-tln, numbering 24 ; and at 

 Nool-ke Lake, the Nool-ke-ot-In numbering 56. 



The route from Fort Babine, on the northern portion of Lake 

 Babine to Fort St. James, at the southern extremity of Stuart Lake, 

 is by the lakes as above described. It is a six days' journey with a 

 pack train from Fort St. James to Fort McLeod, on the north end of 

 McLeod Lake, which is in latitude 55° north, or the same as Fort 

 Babine. From Fort McLeod to the summit of the Pine River Pass, 

 the distance is short, and the direction north-easterly. From Stuart 

 to McLeod Lakes the region, as a whole, is flat, and characterized 

 rather by low ridges and terraces than by hills. Its eastern part 

 drains toward Stuart Lake, but the greatest area is unwatered by 

 Salmon River and its tributaries, which, flowing southward, join 

 the Fraser near Fort George. East of the Salmon River lies the 

 Pacific and Arctic watershed, beyond which the Long Lake River — 

 a small stream — is found flowing toward McLeod's'Lake. On leaving 

 Stuart Lake the ground rises gradually till a height of 400 feet is 

 gained at eight or nine miles from the lake. The surface is generally 

 undulating, has been frequently burned over, and shows fine grassy 

 meadows, suitable for cultivation. From this place to the crossing 

 of Salmon River the country consists of undulating uplands, the 

 highest point of which is about 700 feet above Stuart Lake. Carrier 

 Lake, two and a half miles long, is passed to the left, besides several 

 other small ponds. 



The country between Stuart and McLeod's Lakes is thus some- 

 what higher than the Nechaco and Chilacco country to the south, 

 and quite different in character, wanting the extensive deposits of 

 white silt which there form a fertile soil. The soil is here generally 



