
20 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 
being able to observe a section of the underlying Cretaceous or Tertiary 
rocks, and but for their great uniformity and simplicity of structure, it 
would be a very difficult task to unravel the geology of so vast a region, 
The very monotony of the plains is, however, to a great extent, a corol- 
lary of the attitude of the strata beneath them, and of their unconsolidated 
and homogeneous character. 
36. In the foregoing brief summary of the Physical Geography and 
Geology of the interior region of British America, I have availed myself 
freely of the various sources of information on that subject, some of which 
have been already acknowledged. Though there are many works 
bearing more or less directly on the general nature and aspect of the 
country, the geological bibliography is as yet quite small, and the 
knowledge of some districts has not been extended since the date of the 
first observations, made many years ago. The principal authorities on 
this region, exclusive of those relating entirely to its Arctic portion, are 
as follows :— 
Sir J. Richardson, in his “ Journal of a Boat Voyage through Rupert’s 
Land,” 1851. Also in “Topographical and Geological Appendix to 
Franklin's Second Journey to the Arctic Sea,” and various papers in the 
Journal of the Geological Society of London. His personal observations 
were chiefly confined to the Canoe Route, from Lake Superior to the 
mouth of the Mackenzie, and to the regions lying near the coast of the 
Polar Sea. 
Dr. Bigsby, in two papers published in the Journal of the Geological 
Society, 1851 and 1852, gives much information on the Lake of the 
Woods region, as more fully mentioned in wother part of this report. 
Mr. Isbister, in the Journal of the Geological Society for 1855, gives 
a concise account of the general geology of the north-western regions of 
America, as then known, and a geological map chiefly based on that of 
Richardson. 
Prof. H. Y. Hind, in his various reports of the “ Assineboine and 
Saskatchewan Exploring Expedition,” organized by the Canadian Govern- 
ment in 1857-58, furnishes much information, both as to the geology and 
general character of the country traversed, 
Dr, Hector, geologist to the exploring expedition sent out by the 
Imperial Government under Capt. Palliser, traversed an immense extent 
of country during the years 1857-58-59. To him the first really trust- 
worthy general geological map of the interior portion of B. N. America 
is due; and he has besides accumulated and published a great mass of 

