454 INDIAN TRIBES OF 



ser's river below Fort Thompson. Sir George Simpson, who passed 

 down it in 1828, stated that he found the navigation so dangerous and 

 difficult that it was almost totally impracticable. If it had offered any 

 facilities for navigation, the distance it would have saved in the trans- 

 portation of their goods for the northern posts, would have caused the 

 adoption of the route. This will readily be perceived by simply 

 estimating the distances. From Vancouver to Okonagan is three 

 hundred miles by water, with four portages ; and from Okonagan to 

 Fort Thompson by land, one hundred and fifty miles ; thence to Fort 

 Alexandria, one hundred and twenty, and as much more to Fort St. 

 James, one hundred and twenty miles : total, seven hundred and 

 twenty miles, that occupy nearly sixty days in travelling, two-thirds 

 of which time is employed in going from Fort Okonagan to Fort St. 

 James. This distance, without loads, and with expedition, may be 

 travelled in twenty days. 



The climate of this northern section of country is unfavourable to 

 agriculture, in consequence of its being situated between two ranges 

 of mountains, the Rocky Mountains on the east, and the extension of 

 the Cascade Range on the west. Both of these are constantly covered 

 with snow, notwithstanding which, the climate is said not to be re- 

 markably severe. Snow, however, lies on the ground from November 

 till April or May, and on an average six feet deep. From the end of 

 May till the beginning of September, fires can be dispensed with ; for 

 the rest of the year they are necessary. 



There are many spots of fertile land along the rivers, but the early 

 frosts are a great obstacle to agriculture. Potatoes, turnips, wheat, 

 and barley, are, however, raised at Fort Alexandria and Fort George; 

 but at the more northern, as St. James, Babine, and Fraser's, only the 

 two former vegetables can be cultivated. Cattle are now in consi- 

 derable numbers at most of the posts. 



On the 19th, Lieutenant Johnson was prepared to depart, with his 

 party, having recruited his horses and mended his accoutrements. 

 The kindness of Messrs. M'Donald and Maxwell supplied all their 

 wants, and enabled the party to leave Colville in a better state than 

 they had originally departed from Nisqually. 



To these gentlemen my thanks are especially due for their attentions 

 to the officers, who all spoke in high terms of the kindness they 

 received. After their departure, they found that the ladies of the 

 establishment had been equally mindful of their comforts, in not only 

 filling their haversacks, but in supplying them with moccasins. 



The latitude was ascertained, by observations at the fort, to be 48° 

 36' 16" N., longitude 118° 04' 00" W. 



