QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 33 B 



much fine spruce timber on the wide low country which stretches 

 back from the shore toward Masset Inlet. Very frequently the timber 

 seen on the immediate verge of the cliffs and along the shore is of an 

 inferior quality, owing to its exposed position. The soil where shown g n. 

 in the cliffs is generally quite sandy, or peaty in hollow places in which 

 water has collected. Sand hills, or elevations resembling such, are 

 seen in some places in section in the cliffs, and it is likely that further 

 inland where these are not found the soil has a better character, though 

 the fact that the upper layers of the drift deposits are of sand and 

 gravel renders it probable that it is generally light. 



North of the range of cliffs the shore is almost everywhei'e bordered Sand hills and 

 by sand hills, which are covered with coarse grass, beach-pea and 

 other similar plants, and would afford fine grazing for cattle. Behind 

 these are woods, in some places burnt and the trees generally under- 

 sized and scrubby. This part of the coast is also characterized by 

 lagoons, and is evidently making, by the banking up of the sand 

 under the action of the sea. The largest of the lagoons opens at Cape 

 Fife of the chart, running southward some miles, and according to the 

 Indians communicating with a second further inland. The mouth of this 

 forms a safe harbour for boats or canoes at high tide, but is nearly dry 

 at low water. 



The Tl-ell Eiver just alluded to reaches the sea ten and a half miles Ti-eii River, 

 north of Boulder Point, at the entrance to Skidegate. It is a stream of 

 some size. For about three miles above its mouth it runs nearly 

 parallel to the shore, about half a mile back, and separated by a low 

 swampy strip of land of that breadth only from the sea. This land is 

 of comparatively modern formation, being composed of sand and gravel 

 banked up by the action of the waves. It is partly open and in part 

 covered with spruce trees of no great size. A ruined Indian house, Ruined house, 

 which must have been very large, stands about three miles south of 

 the mouth of the river, and near this the Indians say it formerly 

 debouched. This is probably correct, though it can scarcely have been 

 during the existence of the building of which traces are now seen. 

 The water of this river is of a dark coffee or amber colour, and a similar 

 tint distinguishes that of all streams of the northern low part of the 

 islands. In the bay to the north of Cape Ball an Indian village, of Deserted 

 which some of the houses are still standing, was formerly situated." 

 The Indians report that at Very low tides patches of hard clay appear a 

 long way off Cape Ball. They relate further that many years ago a 

 vessel went ashore on these shoals, and got off only by throwing over- 

 board many things, of which one was a brass cannon. On some parts Gold, 

 of the shore near Cape Fife magnetic iron sand is abundant, and in this 

 numerous 'colours' of gold can easily be found. 



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