FROM FORT BENTON TO LATITUDE 49 ° 30 '. 
549 
mountain, which is a bare rocky peak of a square form, standing at a distance of five or six miles 
from the main chain, and connected with it by a high ridge wooded with pine. In seventeen 
miles came to a broad valley, the sides of which are wooded with pine and poplar; and in the 
bottom, five hundred feet below us, we saw the blue water of a mountain lake. This is the 
well-known Chief Mountain lake. It takes its name from the Chief mountain, so called in honor 
of Mr. Roan, a gentleman who has been many years in charge of Edmonton House, a Hudson’s 
Bay Company’s post on the south fork of the iSaskatchawan river. Descending into the valley, in 
four miles we reached the lake, and encamped in a beautiful prairie bordering it. 
May 29.—Moved up the lake three miles to its inlet, and encamped. In this camp we remained 
until June 5th, having been so unwell during that lime as to be unable to travel, or do more than 
make short explorations and observe for latitude. 
Chief Mountain Jake is seven miles long by one broad. Its banks are low and shore gravelly; 
the water clear and very deep. The valley of the lake is six miles in breadth, and is rolling- 
prairie, interspersed with groves of cotton-wood and poplar, and in the low places the birch and 
willow. The soil is a reddish loam, and is fertile, as is indicated by the luxuriant vegetation. 
Pine of a fair size and thrifty growth is abundant, and can easily be obtained; and there are 
inexhaustible quarries of good limestone. 
Connected with Chief Mountain lake is another, three-fourths of a mile wide, and extending 
nine miles into the mountains in the form of a bow, and l therefore called it “Bow lake.” It is 
shut in by mountains coming close down to the water, and has no valley susceptible of cultivation. 
The mean of observations for latitude gives as the latitude of this, the south end of Chief Mountain 
lake, 48° 43' 07", or 17 miles south of the boundary line. The British traders on the Saskatcha- 
wan have always contended that the boundary line was as far south as the Marias or the Cut 
Bank river; but my survey shows that Chief Mountain lake and its environs, as well as the tract 
of fertile country extending south to the Marias Pass, belong to the United States. 
Several lodges and numerous signs of Indians were seen in this vicinity, and I presume they 
were made by Kootenaies who come here stealthily to hunt. It was at first supposed that there 
must be a good pass in this vicinity, but a close examination satisfied me that such is not the 
case. 
Numerous little streams emptying into these lakes are filled with beaver dams and beaver, 
this industrious animal having been left in quiet possession of this country since the low price of 
its fur has rendered it unprofitable to trap them. Elk, moose, and deer are abundant, and salmon- 
trout of a large size are taken in the lakes. 
June 5.—Started due north along the lake shore, and in seven miles came to the outlet at the 
extreme northern end. The outlet is called in the Blackfoot language Mo-ko-un, or Belly river. 
It is a swift, deep stream, where it comes from the lake, and about 80 feet wide, and its course 
for some miles is due north. This is the most southerly of the headwaters of the Saskatchawan 
river. After receiving the waters of the “Bad Buck Fat,” the Bear’s Pound, and the Bull 
Pound rivers, it empties into Bow river, which joins the Red Deer or Elk river, and their 
junction forms the south branch of the Saskatchawan. The valley of Mo-ko-un river is here 
three miles in width, stony and sterile. High hills bound the valley on either side, and the 
country generally is broken. Passed one large fork rising near Chief mountain. 
The next day continued down the stream on the east side, passing two large forks coming in 
on the north. The country is becoming less broken and the soil richer. There is very little 
timber on the river, and it is principally cotton-wood and poplar. We made to-day about 25 
miles, and encamped where the wooded points cease. 
June 7.—Remained in camp to observe for latitude and explore the country. In riding down 
the river 15 miles, found no timber, and there seems to be here a stretch of at least 50 miles des¬ 
titute of wood. Far to the north and east stretches a vast plain, or, more properly speaking, a 
