Proceedings of Learned Societies. 403 



lake several miles in length. On its western bank is Jasper House, 

 a summer station of the Hudson Bay Company, surrounded by snow- 

 capped mountains. The scenery in the vicinity was described as 

 most enchanting. Three days' march from Jasper House brought 

 them (on the 8th of July, 1863) to the watershed between the 

 Pacific and Atlantic ; and on the 10th they struck the Erazer River, 

 which they found, even at this altitude, to be a stream of consider- 

 able size, rushing down a narrow rocky gorge. Here the great 

 difficulties of the journey commenced, the only road being along the 

 almost precipitous cliff's of the narrow river valleys. In crossing 

 some of these, the party met with many dangers. They crossed to 

 the valley of the Thompson River, passing one of its sources ; and 

 following this for several days they finally came to a point where all 

 traces of path entirely ceased, and an untrodden region of forest 

 and torrent lay before them, which it was necessary to traverse in 

 order to reach Kamloops, where alone they could obtain succour. 

 They struggled through this difficult region for twenty- three days, 

 living on their horses and the small quantity of flour that remained 

 of their stock, and at last arrived, in an emaciated condition, at the 

 Fort of Kamloops, where they were hospitably received by Mr. 

 Mackay. With regard to the practicability of a road being taken 

 across by the route they had come, Lord Milton believed that few 

 engineering difficulties existed of any importance, but it would have 

 to be made throughout the entire route between Edmonton and the 

 valley of the Thompson. The great advantages of this line are that 

 it lies far removed from the United States boundary, passes through 

 a country inhabited only by friendly Indians, and forms the most 

 direct communication between Canada and the gold regions of 

 British Columbia. 



Mr. Stuart gave a brief account of the fertile regions recently 

 discovered by himself between the centre of Australia and the mouth 

 of the Adelaide River, and which he had explored in his journey 

 across the continent. The climate was healthy, and the land well 

 adapted for European settlers, if Malays and Chinese could be in- 

 troduced as a labouring class. The Adelaide River had 40 feet of 

 water at a distance of 80 miles from its mouth, and its entrance 

 formed a secure harbour. He proposed calling this region "Alex- 

 andra Land." 



December 12. 



Description of the Malayan Islands of Kalatoa and Puloweh:. 

 — These little-known islands were visited by Mr. J. Cameron in the 

 course of a trading expedition, and the result of his visit was the 

 conviction that, although covered with verdure, they contained no 

 fresh water. Kalatoa was uninhabited, but Puloweh, notwithstand- 

 ing the absence of so great a necessary of life as fresh-water, main- 

 tained a population of 5000 souls, a meagre, dingy-skinned race of 

 savages, whose countenances wear a comically good-natured expres- 

 sion. Their ordinary beverage is a liquor made_ from palm fruits, 

 which is a harmless drink in the morning, but which, from ferment- 

 ing very speedily, becomes slightly stimulating at midday, and in- 



