100 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



"Viscount Milton, accompanied by Dr. Cheadle, has been exploring 

 tbe means of communication between Canada and the new colony of 

 British Columbia. Tbe results of these researches were laid in the 

 form of a paper before the British Association, and have since been 

 brought before the Boyal Geographical Society. The party started 

 from the Bed Biver settlement westward, following in the main the 

 direction of the Saskatchewan to Jasper House, then they traced the 

 Athabasca and the valley of Myette, and across the watershed of the 

 Bocky Mountains by the Leather Pass. The slopes were so gradual, 

 that the travellers could scarcely imagine that they had crossed the 

 ridge. They descended by the Fraser river to Tete Jamie's Cache. Here 

 they met with great difficulty from the overflowing of the river — for 

 days the water was up to the girths of their horses, or they had to 

 climb the precipitous sides of the valley, where they could find no 

 rest. They thence followed the track of some previous emigrants, 

 crossed the Canoe river (a tributary of the Columbia), and then 

 followed the Thompson, until the track they had been pursuing came 

 to an end. Their predecessors had floated on rafts down the stream, 

 thinking it hopeless to cut their way through the dense forests. These 

 determined travellers, however, persevered. After a month, their 

 provisions failed ; they were reduced to pemmican and flour, and 

 finally to dried horseflesh. At the end of three months from their 

 setting out from Fort Edmonton, on the Saskatchewan, they arrived 

 at Fort Kamloups, in British Columbia. The travellers consider that 

 roads and even railroads might be carried over the district they tra- 

 versed, and the advantages they sum up as follows : — (1) That this 

 route runs well within the British possessions, and removed from the 

 United States boundary ; (2) that the Indians inhabiting the route 

 are friendly ; (3) that it is the most direct route between the gold 

 regions of British Columbia and Canada ; (4) that it is easier, and at 

 a less incline, than any other within British dominion. The draw- 

 backs are a want of pasturage for cattle, less open country than 

 borders some of the more southerly passes, and an increased liability 

 to be blocked by snow. A very large portion of the route is through 

 forest, and some of this forest is also swamp. A road would have to 

 be made ; but it could be made without great difficulty. On the way, 

 the country between the Bed Biver settlement and the Bocky Mountains, 

 is described as rich and fertile. These same Bed Biver settlements 

 are in a tolerably flourishing condition. The main difficulty is the 

 want of provisions. The diggings afford good returns, but the digger 

 must be a hunter too, and a want of a proper division of labour is felt. 

 A great scarcity of water has been experienced, and hay has been 

 brought from 10 to 60 miles for winter provision. The Sioux, to 

 the number of 3,000, have at last been prevailed on to depart, much to 

 the relief of the settlers from whom they begged their whole sub- 

 sistence. The heat has been extraordinary, the thermometer having , 

 reached even 100° in the shade. The cattle have to frequent the river 

 for drink, and even the bears do the like, appearing in the midst of 

 the most inhabited parts, at a risk for which they pay dearly enough. 



The last paper to which we can allude, was " On the New Country 



