, 1858-11-12
From the Northern Light Of August last.
SumaS River and Prairie.

not more Ihan tnlfty IN straight line
and lies IN hernortheaSt corner of prairie
Of the same name. Its outlet is a small
river Or lagoon, which empties into Frazer
river, some twenty-five miles above Fort
Langley, and four or five miles below the
mouth Of Harrison river 1t is a slug
giSh stream, with an average width Of
thirty or forty feet. depth varying FROM
four to twenty feet, and is supposed to be
navigable for small sized steamers Of light
draft. A feet Of twenty canoes, contain
ing the stores of the escort to the English
portion of the Joint Boundary Commission,
ascended it the afternoon of the day on
which we visited it, to within three miles Of
the Lake, where point for their camp
had previously been selected.
The southwestern MARGIN Of the prairie
is struck, after emerging from thick for
est, two miles north Of the 49th parallel Of
latitude; and produces upon the vision a
sensation almost similar to that which
would be experienced onpassiug out Of the
mouth Of cavern or coal-pit, to the broad
sunshine Of the open heavens. The specta-
clio is grand. The equestrian urges his ami
NAL forward three or four hundred yards,
till the summit Of gentle undulation is at
tanned; when it becomes sublime. We
can hardly find language to express our
own feelings, and those of the party with
US, whilst pausing for q moment to contem-
plate the beauties of this scene. The
whole picture was so different from what
we had expected to find it-so much in con-
trast with the balance of the country trav-
ersed-so replete with magnifcence-th
we could not avoid experiencing thrill Of
delight, which found vent in one spOnta
neous and prolonged shout Of gladness
1t would be difficult, by the mere meas
urement Of the eye, to arrive at any def
mite conclusion as to the extent Of this ely
stun valley. 1t contains twenty square
miles, more or less, and is enclosed between
two ranges of mountains the bases of
which are perhaps ten miles apart. Far
off in the northeast are numerous conical-
peaked and Serrated ranges; and directly
on the right, to the southeast, some FIVE or
eight miles distant, Mount Baker looms up,
with its dome Of eternal SHOWS; upon which
the lover Of nature can gaze for hours
without wearying or ceasing to wonder.
From the point at which the prairie is
first entered, the beholder rides three or
fourIniles, over the most lovely portion Of
it, before reaching the margin Of the Lake
At times the luxuriant grasses, with which
the entire face of the valley abounds, are
so high as to close over the back Of bis
animal, and conceal it from ethers which
may be following in its trail. These grass
es are of the most nutritious kind, and of
several varieties; upon which ten thousand
cattle might pasture, without visibly d.
minishing the supply.
The Lake is broad sheet of fresh water,
with quito a number Of tributaries, coming
in from the mountain bases, and different
portions of the plain. 1t cantains count
less thousands OF fish, mostly pike and sal
mon-trOut, which keep its surface constantly
agitated by acundering into the air, and
are easily captured by the angler, with al
most any kind of bait and rude appliance.
The few Indians resident in the neighbor-
hood subsiSt almost entirely upon them.
The Prairie is dotted all over with
groves These, we were informed by Mr.
Shaw, who had resided seven weeks in the
valley, are the favorite places of resort for
elk and deer, great many Of which have
been seen by him, roaming unmolested
through the wild and luxuriant pastures.
Our space, however, will not permit of
more extended remarks on subject SO
pleasant to contemplate. The Prairie, the
Lake, aud the mountain scenery, must oil
be gazed upon, to be fully appreciated; aud
although or description may appear ex-
travagant, we feel confident that it does
not oVercolor the picture. The writer has
travelled through Texas, from east to west,
been upon the Grand Prairie of Illinois,
and the still more beautiful prairies of In-
diana; but he never saw anything which,
for loveliness, could compare with the prai-
rie Of SumaS Lake.
The TRUE SITE FOR TowN.-The many
real estate spectators who came from Cali
fornia TO this country with the view Of
suddenly enriching themselves by laying off
towns and dealing in town lots, have en-
tirely overlooked the claims of the Sumas
Valley. Elsewhere in tO-dsy's paper, we
have attempted-and it is only feeble at
tempt-to portray the beauties OF that re-
gion.
An excellent wagon road could be made
to the Sumas Prairie for ten or twelve
thousand dollars. Its soil is perhaps as
rich as any on the continent It is tray
ersed in all directions by streams of living
water Its pastures would accommodate
a hundred thousand head of cattle; and it
could be divided up into twelve or fifteen
hundred farms Of l60 acres each, so beau
tiful in their locations that it wnud be diff
fcult to make choice between them. There
is soil enough, if properly titled, to supply
the demands Of the entire mining region
from the mouth Of Frazer river to the
Rocky Mountains The waters of its
splendid Lake could be applied to many
useful purposes, to say nothing Of their
countless thousands Of fish.
In straight line from Whatcom-pass.
ing over a heavily timbered country, with