iirdliCfa] 



WRITER'S TRIP ON YUKON 53 



steep more or less shavedlike barren slopes recommence. A gloomy 

 day. 



About 7 miles down, after a large rocky promontory, a small grave- 

 yard on the side of a hill, with a little native camp about a third of a 

 mile beyond. 



10.45 a. in. Beautiful wooded great hills, 400 to 800 feet high, all 

 along the right bank again, with large V-shaped valleys between. A 

 fine, rounded, slightly more than usually elevated island ahead. Left 

 banks flat. 



Sun coming out a little; cool, but not unpleasant. No more 

 showers, river smooth, boat making time. Blue hazy mountains tar 

 to the left front. 



Hills to right rocky, strata horizontal to warped, mud rocks, broad 

 banks of sandy, gravelly or mucky materials, not consolidated, be- 

 tween hard strata. 



Now and then a small Indian camp, usually two or three tents. 

 Indians, dogs, boats; some drying fish (not much). 



11.00 a. m. Another isolated little graveyard, right slope, near an 

 old camp. 



There is no possibility now of excavating any of these graveyards, for 

 the Indians are in unpleasant disposition toward the Government for 

 various reasons. But such a place as that near Burchell's could be 

 excavated as soon as conditions 1 improve. Also that above Ruby and 

 another opposite and just below Ruby. There are no longer any 

 superstructures left at these (or but traces), and the graves, as seen 

 above Ruby, are near (within 2 feet of) the surface. 



No trace or indication of anything older than the double-grooved 

 ax culture has thus far been seen anywhere in the valley; and large 

 stretches of present banks are quite barren. 



As we approach Nulato the horizon before us becomes hilly and 

 mountainous. The sun is now fully out and its warmth is very 

 pleasant. Pass an Indian woman paddling a canoe ; later an Indian 

 family going upstream in a motor boat. Most of these Indians 

 possess a motor boat of some sort, and know how to run it, though 

 it is not in their nature to be overcareful. 



Nttlato 



(PI. 1, 6) 



Arrive midday. Quite a village, as usual along the water front 

 on a high bank. Large fancy modern surface burial ground with 

 brightly painted boxes and flying flags on a hill to the right. Met 

 by local marshal and doctor; my tilings are taken to a little hospital. 

 Natives here have poor reputation, but now said to be better. Hoys 

 nearly all mix bloods. Several men and women show Eskimo type, 



