680 
same kind that was caught in such immense 
numbers near Miles’ Rapids, and observed in 
varying numbers from Perthes Point, on Lake 
Bove, to the mouth of White River, averaging 
a trifle over a pound in weight; and a trout- 
like salmon, caught sparingly from Lake Nares 
to White River, occasionally with a fly, but 
more often on the trout-lines put out over 
night. 
We got away from Selkirk, July 15, at 
1.15 p.m., having waited for a meridian cul- 
mination of the sun for an observation for lati- 
SCIENCE. 
[Vou. IIL, No. 70. 
bulky raft was swung in as if it had been a 
canoe. 
From previous explorers on the river, I had 
been deluded into the idea that useful articles 
—as knives, saws, and files — were the best 
for trading-purposes, the purchase of native 
work, and payment of services; but I soon 
found this to be erroneous, for the constant 
burden of their solicitations was for tea and 
tobacco, small quantities of which they get 
by barter with intermediate riparian tribes. 
These desires I found to extend the whole 
Fia. 4.— AYAN INDIANS AND THEIR BIRCH-BARK CANOES. 
tude. Although we had understood from the 
Indians that had visited us, that their village 
was but a few miles below Selkirk, we had be- 
come so used to weak, straggling numbers of 
natives, that it was a great surprise when we 
rounded the lower end of an island, about 4 
p.M., to see from a hundred and seventy-five 
to two hundred Indians on the south bank of, 
the river, ready to receive us; our coming 
having. been heralded, evidently, by advance 
couriers, and all of them apparently half frantic 
with excitement for fear that 
we would drift past without 
visiting them. A line was 
thrown ashore, and every man, 
woman, and child got hold of it, and the great 
a, 
Fie. 5. 
length of the river; and, as the former article 
is light, I would especially recommend it to 
those entering that country to pursue scientific 
research, for which there is such a grand field. 
Bea" Se eee 
lt 
=~ 
- 
we 
These Indians call themselves the A-yans, 
with an occasional leaning of the pronuncia- 
