184 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
two miles in breadth, covered with flowers, Me with small lakes, on which were numbers of 
water fowl. 
The valley then narrows, bottoms disappear, and the river is shut in by lofty precipices. 
Then comes a perpendicular wall of limestone rock one hundred feet high, in which is an 
opening twenty feet wide from top to bottom, and through this the river flows in a swift, deep 
current. Its sources were evidently far up in the mountains, and Mr. Doty found it impossible 
to reach them even on foot, but ascended one of the high peaks near by, from which the view 
was magnificent. Above and around were snow-covered hills and the breath of winter, while 
the luxuriant grass and gay flowers in the valley far below were fast approaching maturity 
under a summer sun. At this high elevation there was still no timber suitable for building 
purposes. à | 
From Sun river his course lay close along the mountains, over hills of considerable elevation, 
covered with pines twenty to etd feet high, Ме which he had much difficulty in taking 
the odometer wagon. 
The soil continues gravelly and poor among these ridges and plateaux near the headwaters 
of Teton river, and there is but little timber on the banks of the streams. 
Northward of this river, and still at the base of the mountains, the country is a stony plain, 
intersected by numerous spring brooks, running сз deep, narrow valleys, in which the 
soil is good. 
Tracts thickly wooded with serub pines, and many marshes, rendered travelling slow and 
laborious; considerable snow was seen May 20, low down in the mountain, and some even in 
the valleys, but beautiful flowers were at ae same time d by the side of a snow bank 
six feet deep. 
The appearance of the country still continued to improve in going northward among the 
branches of Marias river, and the mountains are covered with large pines and firs, while on 
the river banks cottonwood, birch, and willow reappear. Many small lakes occur from one to 
twenty acres in extent, clear and deep. The grass was so luxuriant as to form a heavy turf, 
and the soil a rich loam. | 
Оп the headwaters of the Kayiyou or southern branch of the Marias river he found fertile 
valleys, in which were many small lakes and Ape of tall pines, which finally prevented 
further progress up stream. 
Marias river comes through 8 gap in the moimtaine some fifteen miles in width, the country 
around being hilly and densely timbered with pines, but the soil rich, even on the highest hills. 
There are also many grassy openings or prairies from one to ten acres in extent. The stream 
was completely hemmed in by perpendicular banks from 150 to 300 feet high, and was swift 
and deep, so that it was impossible to cross it at this place, but by following it up for several 
miles a practicable ford was found. 
Along this branch an old Indian trail showed that it led to one of the passes across the Rocky 
mountains. Further north the mountains become more rugged in character, loftier, and 
covered with snow 300 feet below their summits. 
The country is considerably broken by high hills and narrow valleys, by spring brooks, filled 
with thickets of poplar and willow, and flooded by beaver dams. Several smaller branches 
were crossed before coming to Cut Bank river, the most northerly tributary of Marias river. 
This is a rapid чал fifty feet wide, flowing through a rich valley, with banks of yellow clay 
