262 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



become lower, more even, and more thickly wooded. Took breakfast on 

 a small low sandy island in tbe upper lake, where we were joined by a 

 hunter having in his possession a very large female sheep, cut up in quarters, 

 only killed about an hour before on the subalpine regions of the mountains, 

 where I am informed they are in abundance. Hair short, coarse, and very 

 thick, of a uniform light brown on the neck, head, back, and sides ; belly 

 a dirty white. I would judge at 170 lb. weight. Continued our route and 

 passed on the right a high rugged range of mountains, and five miles lower 

 on the left some of lower elevation, seemingly the termination of the 

 dividing ridge. Arrived at Jasper House, three small hovels on the left 

 side of the river, at two o'clock, where we put up to refresh ourselves for the 

 remainder of the day. Minimum heat 29°, maximum 61°. Pine and 

 warm. The country to the south undulating and woody ; on the north 

 low and hUly, with even surface, also woody, with a most commanding and 

 beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains on the west and east. The difier- 

 ence of climate is great and the total change of verdure impresses on the 

 mind of the traveller an idea of being, as it were, in a different hemisphere 

 more than in a difierent part of the same continent, and only a hundred 

 miles apart. Obtained from J. Cardinal a pair of ram's horns, which he 

 considers the largest, and the skull, but I regret the lower jaw is wanting. 

 Had some of the much talked-of white fish for supper, which I found good, 

 although simply boiled in water, eaten without sauce or seasoning, hunger 

 excepted, not so much as salt, afterwards drinking the liquor in which it was 

 boiled ; no bread. To-night comfortable. Nothing in the way of plants 

 this day. Observed one species of Eibes on the dry banks of the river 

 (prickly), not yet in blossom. Salix two species, one large with red bark, 

 6 to 10 feet high, on the sandy banks of the river, and another low one in 

 the same place. 



Saturday, 5th. — Last night an old viohn was found at our new lodgings, 

 and Mr. E.'s servant being something of a performer nothing less than 

 dancing in the evening would suit them, which they kept up for a few 

 hours. This may serve to show how Uttle they look on hardship when past ; 

 only a few days ago, and they were as much depressed as they are now 

 elated. Morning fine ; minimum heat 29°, maximum 62° ; wind easterly- 

 At daybreak embarked in our canoe and after passing the sandy shores and 

 shoals of the lake went rapidly before the stream. This day admits of little 

 variety. The river is 100 to 140 yards broad, shallow, full of rapids, and 

 although the canoe drew only about nine inches of water, yet ere 2 p.m. we 

 were under the necessity of putting to shore for the purpose of repair. 

 The banks in the upper parts on quitting the mountains are high, gravelly, 

 or sandy clay on a stratum of sandstone lower down, as far as we have 

 come. The banks are low and gravelly, covered with only two species of 

 Pinus — P. nigra i and P. Banksiana — on the shore. Betula and Alnus of 

 diminutive growth. Last view of the Rocky Mountains closed at 11 a.m., 

 distant forty miles. The water of this river is muddy and small in com- 

 parison with the clear majestic Columbia, and it deserves to be noticed that 

 no stream that flows into it has the clear water of itself. This river 

 1 Piaa nigra. Mast, in Joum. R. Hort. Soo. xiv. p. 222. 



