BRDLiCka] WRITER'S TRIP ON YUKON 47 



Near 10 p. m. Sun still above horizon. On left a long (several 

 miles), mostly wooded, but here and there denuded, palisadelike 

 bank, apparently 200-400 feet high — the "graveyard." 



Monday, dune 21. Just at sunset last night — after 10 o'clock — 

 came to the "bone yard" hank — a long curving line of loess bluffs 

 100 to 300 feet high, steep right to water's edge, riven by many ra- 

 vines. Lowest third (approximately) light compact loess; then a 

 thick layer of river sand (stratified more or less) and small gravel, 

 then from one-third to nearly two-fifths of darker loess. In spots 

 (piite dark, frozen, but on surface melting, " running," also tumbling 

 in smaller or larger masses. Wherever darker there emanates from 

 it and spreads far out over the river a decided mummylike smell. 

 Too late to photograph from boat, and no other place available. 

 Also impracticable to explore with any detail — would take several 

 days and be a difficult work. The bluffs become gradually lower 

 downstream. No bones seen from boat, but mostly were not near 

 enough to discern. A remarkable formation, in many ways, and 

 in need of masterly study as well as description. 



Night on a low gravelly and pebbly beach. Many mosquitoes. 

 Mosquito netting found bad — sides too short (gave directions, but 

 they were disregarded) and mesh not small enough. In a short time 

 impossible to stay under. Supplemented by old netting of Mr. 

 Peake, who will sleep under his canvas in the boat; but the old dirty 

 net has holes in it and the mosquitoes keep on coming through the 

 two. Fighting them until some time after midnight, then under all 

 my things — netting, blanket, clothes — find some rest, sleeping until 

 4.30 a. m. After that — full day, of course — sleep impossible. The 

 "optician," who slept well under proper Alaska netting, gets up, 

 wakes my man; we both get up, shake, roll up bedding, have a cat- 

 wash, then breakfast, and at 6.30 off once more along the beautiful 

 but not hospitable river. 



Inquiry at a local white man's cabin about fossils and Indian 

 things negative — has paid no attention, and fossil bones that he 

 sometimes comes across generally not in good state of preservation. 



Right bank now hilly, with greater hills and then mountains be- 

 hind. Warm, river smooth, just a light breeze. How puny we are 

 in all this greatness. 



A lot of trouble develops with the engine to-day — bad pump. 

 Will not get to Ruby until evening. Meat, on which I must sit 

 occasionally, begins to smell, and there are numerous horseflies, 

 probably attracted by the smell. 



Four p. m. Visit Kokrines, on a high bank, native village, ceme- 

 tery. Photograph some natives, are good natured, talk pidgin Eng- 

 lish. Clearly considerable old Eskimo admixture, but the substratum 



