G6 CIUTISK OK TIIK 8TKAMKR OORWIN. 



( )iii' work from day (o ilay was iiicrcly a repetition of former experiences, and by alter- 

 nately tracking and paddling' we continued to advance at a good rate of speed. The region 

 tlii-ongli wliich our journey now lay was heavily rolling, the UKJuntaiiis being in broken ranges, 

 and trending irregularly from WSW. to ENE. 



Throughout the mountain district the river is shallow and the channel is studded with 

 obstructing rocks. Asich^ from the nsmil dangers of navigation in places of this kind, nothing 

 of special importance occurred. 1 shot a. tine pair of willow grouse {LagopuH ulhus) during 

 the day, July 18, wliich were the tirst seen in the region. We also n<jted an eagle's nest, con- 

 taining two half-fledged birds, on a jutting ci'ag not more than twenty-five feet above the water. 

 It is very unusual to find them in locations of this kind and therefore specially notewcn'thy. 



The following day l)eing Sunday, it. was my intention to devote the time to rest and recu- 

 peration after the arduous duties of the week, but I found many things whiidi demanded 

 immediate attention before resunung our journey. The wear and tear to which the canoe had 

 been subjected had cliafed tlie seams very l)adly, and it was neci^ssary to patch tlu! defective 

 pai'ts before proceeding. Tlie skin was also water-soaked and n-(|nii'fd drying. After attend- 

 ing to these details 1 ascended a neighltoring hill for the pur]>ose of e.^amining the surrounding 

 country. On gaining tlie eminence I discovered several small lakes, none of which were more 

 than a mile in length, and situated as they were, walled in liy the mountains, their calm and 

 unrufHed watei's presente<l an indescriljahly beautiful appearanee, and the peaceful scene on 

 that l)eautiful Sunday morning did much to soften the hardships which had attended our way. 



Although I had I ppoituuity to e.xamine the interior of the region very extensively, there 



are undoubtedly nuuiy lakes of greater or less size than those examined which act as feeders 

 to the main river. 



The volume of water in the No;italc had greatly dimiui.shed witliin the past day or two, 

 and navigation w.as attended with many ditliculties. 



The next morning opened dark and stormy, notwithstanding which we broke cam]j and 

 resumed our journey at the usual hour. About 8 o'clock the impending storm burst upon ns 

 and the rain fell in torrents, thoroughly drenching and demoralizing ns generally, although i' 

 was not allowed to imijede our progress. The mountains now seemed to appi'oach the river 

 again, and the lofty summits towered hundreds of feet above it. The stream again 2mrsued a 

 very tortuous course, winding in and around tlie mountains, through deep caiions and gorges. 

 wliert'. in spite of the wretched weather, we could not fail to admire the grandeur of the 

 scenei-y. In the mean time the fresli l)reeze of morning had increased into a gale which fairly 

 whistled through the chasms, and hoisting our sail, we were driven rai:)idly forward, notwith 

 standing the ojjposing current in the river. The work now became exciting in the extreme. 

 Steering the frail canoe into the eddy, we determined to make the best of the opportunity and 

 gain every possible advantage. To Nelson I intrusted the steering paddle, while I held the 

 sheet and employed every faculty in avoiding the submerged rocks, which seemed to threaten 

 lis with destruction. Iniliui'd with a spirit of boldness bordering on recklessness, the canoe 

 was driven liefore the gale. 



In the afternoon I he lied of the river began a most remarkable ascent, resembling in 

 ap])earance a heavily-graded I'ailway fhrougli a mountain district. With the assistance of the 

 favoring gale and our united exertion with the paddles we succeeded in .stemming the flood, 

 and linallly gained Ww smoother watei- aliove. 



.\l)out 4 o'clock iJ. ni.. .Inly ".'o. we passed a Large tributary on tlie left bank, which con- 

 tributed fully one-third to the total \olume lielow. The water from tliis stream was clear and 

 beautiful, and evidently li;id its soui-ce in a- mountain h\,\n- not far distant; the water in the 

 Noiltak was (piite the rever-se in ajipeara.nce, and as the two rivers mingled each ])reserved its 

 (diaractca'istic for fully half a mile Ih^Iow, the waters remaining entirely separate for that dis- 

 tance. 



At tliis point the range of mountains on the right bank crosses the jjath of the river, trend- 

 ing alioiit northeast. The.se ai-e among tlu! higliest found in any ])ortion of the r(>gion exjjlored. 



Directly above liere the river, by a sliarp turn, leaves the mountains and enters upon a 



