14 
Islands of various forms and elevation border the coast; the 
Kadik group present high, craggy cliffs and verdant gulches, 
with broad, green valleys ; the Shumagins are lower, more level, 
and bask in nutritious grass. The small islands margining the 
peninsula are numerous and barren, presenting clean, pebbly 
beaches. The Aleutian Islands; extending from the south¬ 
western angle of the territory in the direction of the Asiatic 
coast, are bold, rugged and mountainous. Several volcanic 
peaks are visible among these inlands, they are separated by 
deep, boiling channels, through which the ocean currents rush 
with fierce violence, creating fearful tide-rips, which, in heavy 
gales, mariners in those waters are most careful to avoid. 
Climate. Along the southern and western shores of Alaska 
the climate is humid and milder than could Tbe looked for in such 
high latitudes, tempered by the volume of warm water constantly 
bathing those shores. This thermal stream from “ India’s coral 
strand,” coming through the sea of Japan, along the Asiatic 
coast, and dividing into several branches, the greatest of which 
passes through Behring Strait into the Arctic Ocean, and carry¬ 
ing the ice formed in those waters away from our shores ; a con¬ 
siderable stream shoots to the north-east, striking with some 
force against the island of St. Lawrence, again deflects to the 
eastward and finally to the southward and westward, laving the 
northern shores of the peninsula of Alaska and the Aleutian 
islands. A considerable volume of this current crosses on an 
easterly course, washing the south-eastern base of Alaska, 
strikes the shores of British Columbia, and deflects to the north- 
north-west and westward, creating a strong counter-current along 
the Gulf of Alaska and imparting a double dose of heat to the 
shores fringing those waters. The westerly winds blowing over 
this thermal plateau tempers the coast climate, and in passing 
through the Cascade Mountains are known as “ Chinook winds ” 
in the broad basin of the Columbia river. These winds thus 
tempered exert vital influence along the coast, stimulating vege¬ 
tation and dense underbrush. The condensation of this warm 
wind by the colder air on the mainland produces moisture and 
heavy rains, hence the rank growth of trees, grasses, plants and 
moss. Larger trees are found here than on the Atlantic slope 
on the same parallels, while gay plants and beautiful flowers 
flourish and give to those regions the appearance of budding 
fields. 
