ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 803 



Among the most important of these fiords is Portland Inlet, in the 

 extreme north of the territory. Near its mouth Nass River empties 

 itself, which is navigable for canoes for about 80 miles. Between the 

 55th and 54th degrees of latitude the coast is comparatively open. Here 

 the Skeena River has its mouth. Farther south we find an extremely 

 intricate network of fiords and channels, some of which penetrate far 

 into the interior. Among these we may mention Gardner and Douglas 

 Channels, Dean Inlet, and Bentinck Arm, and the straits and sounds 

 sepai-ating Vancouver Island from the mainland. This region has a very 

 temperate climate, the heat of summer and the cold of winter being 

 moderated by the influence of the sea winds. This influence, however, 

 does not extend far inland, and a few miles from the sea-coast low tem- 

 peratures prevail in winter. While intercourse all along the coast is 

 greatly facilitated by its character, it is almost impossible to penetrate 

 into the interior, the high peaks of the coast ranges rising abruptly 

 from the sea. There are only a few passes by means of which intercourse 

 is possible. The most important of these are on Skeena River, and on 

 Salmon and Bella Coola Rivers of Dean Inlet and Bentinck Arm. 



As the precipitation all along the coast is very great, its lower parts 

 are covered with dense forests, which furnish wood for building houses 

 and canoes. Among these, the pine, hemlock, and the red and yellow 

 cedar are the most prominent ; while the hard wood of the maple is used 

 for implements of various kinds, principally for paddles. The woods 

 abound with numerous kinds of berries, which are eagerly sought for by 

 the Indians. They also make use of the kelp and seaweed with which 

 the sea abounds. 



In the woods the deer, the elk, the cariboo, the black and the grizzly 

 bears, the wolf, and numerous other animals, are found. The moun- 

 tain goat lives on the high mountain ranges. The beaver, the otter, and 

 the fur-seal fnrnish valuable skins. The Indians keep a great number 

 of dogs in their villages, which look almost exactly like the coyote. In 

 the northern villages they are much like the Eskimo dog. 



Of prime importance to the natives is the abundance of fish and other 

 animals living in the sea. Seals, sea-lions, and whales are found in 

 considerable numbers, but the Indian depends almost entirely upon the 

 various species of salmon and the olachen (T/irtZeic/if/i?/s jjac/^c7<s, Gir.), 

 which are caught in enormous quantities in the rivers. Various species 

 of cod and halibut are caught throughout the year ; herrings vi.sit the 

 coast early in spring ; in short, there is such an abundance of animal life 

 in the sea that the Indians live almost solely upon it. Besides fish, they 

 gather sevei'al kinds of shell-fish, sea-eggs, and cuttle-fish. 



The interior of the Province is throughout mountainous, with the ex- 

 ception of a portion of the territory occupied by the Tinneh. The country 

 east of the coast ranges is comparatively dry, hot in summer and cold in 

 winter. The southern parts of this region are desolate, the rivers cutting 

 deep gorges through the valleys, which are filled with drift. Agriculture 

 can be carried on only by means of irrigation, but the country is well 

 adapted to stock-raising. Salmon ascend the rivers, and the lakes are 

 well stocked with fi.sh, which forms the staple food of the tribes west of the 

 Selkirk Range. Between this range and the Rocky Mountains the wide 

 valley of the Columbia and Kootcnay Rivers extends from the Inter- 

 national Boundary to near the great bend of the Columbia. The Indians 

 of this valley have access to the great plains over a number of passes. 



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