190 /. H. Tamer — The A lashan Boundary Survey. 



mud flats, and the danger of being stranded on a sand-bar until 

 the following spring was too great a possibility to be overlooked. 

 Supplies were consequently unloaded with all the expedition 

 possible, and the steamer returned to fort Yukon. 



Had our time of arrival been delayed a week no difficulty 

 whatever would have been experienced in landing the party at 

 the boundary, as the river rose rapidly in a few days. A whale- 

 boat brought from San Francisco and a large, unwieldly lighter 

 borrowed from the Alaska Commercial company were the sole 

 means of transportation at our command. 



Lack of time forbids me to enter into a detailed account of the 

 many difficulties and vexatious delays encountered in conveying 

 25 tons of supplies piecemeal 60 miles upstream in the face of a 

 strong current, broken into rapids in many places, and around 

 banks undermined by the action of the water and fringed with 

 fallen trees. Many mishaps occurred despite all precautions, and 

 serious casualties Avere often avoided by a mere hair's breadth. 

 On one occasion the entire party, including several Indians, nar- 

 rowly escaped drowning by being drawn into the swirling waters. 

 Harkert, a member of the party, had the misfortune to lose the 

 end of one finger while handhng a heavy box, and Polte, another 

 of the men, had an ankle broken while assisting the men in 

 tracking the heavy lighter upstream. 



The Indians, unfitted by disposition or i^revious training for 

 such arduous work, proved unreliable. It was unfortunate, too, 

 that early in the season an Indian, while attempting to convey 

 a heavy tow-line across stream in his frail canoe, was capsized 

 and drowned. The accident led to open hostility on the part of 

 the natives, and but for the timely intervention of the Hudson' 

 Bay company's post trader, Mr Firth, the consequences might 

 have proved serious. Several plans to murder the entire party 

 were discussed among the hot-headed younger Indians, but the 

 Aviser counsels of older heads preA'ailed, and as our acquaintance 

 Avith the natives progressed their mistrust and hostility gave 

 place to friendliness. 



Preliminary observations made at Rampart house demon- 

 strated the necessity of a further march of 33 miles upstream 

 before the boundary would be reached. A well sheltered spot 

 was finally selected in a timbered valley at the mouth of Suna- 

 ghun river, and preparations were at once begun to build a com- 

 fortable log house for winter quarters. The Avork Avas often 



