The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1859-04-28

which is principal tributary OF the Colum-
bla, and rises very near the source OF the
latter. Mr.. Bird also stated, that south Of
the X ootonais Pass about twenty miles there
is another Pass terminating on the West at
the same point Of the Kootonais river, but
il :is heavily timbered, and, for the present,
is more difficult than the Kootonais Pass
Major Il. A. c. Hatch, now Of st. Paul,
who recently passed two years at Fort Ben
ton, confirms the statements OF Bird whom,
by the way, he employed as interpreter in
the negotiation OF a treaty between the
United States and the Blaekfeet Indians j
and adds that over the Kootonais Pass the
kootonais or Flatbow Indians are accus.
toned to descend into the plains Of the
Saskatchewan for their summer hunts Of
buffalo. Hence the name OF the tribe has
been given to the Pass.
3. THk SAsKATCHEwAH VALLEYS oF THE
Rocky MoUSrAIxs.--I envy you, gentle.
men, your summer journey along the eastern
base Of the Rocky Mountains, from latitude
40 deg. to 81 deg l know not what the
archives Of the English Fur Companies may
contain, but the only authority for the de-
scription Of this region which have found,
Except the hunters tales ot our Minnesota
berderers.) is the well known Father De
Smet, the devoted Catholic missionary to
the Indians Of Oregon. His Oregon Mis-
sions" is q publication OF much interest,
consisting Of letters to his superiors and
ap0rtion Of this volume narrates his explora.
tions and adventures in the Saskatchewan
valleys Of the Rocky Mountains. In Sept,
lS45, he left the source OF the Columbia river
in latitude 30 deg. and crossed the Rocky
mountains, descending their cas- ern slope in
latitude 81. He entered, on the 18th Of
September, "a rich valley, agreeably diver.
sifed with meadows, forests and lakes-the
latter abounding in salmon trout" This
was mountain valley, however, and it was
not till three days afterwards that he reached
Bow river or the south fork OF the Ssskstch
evan. Thence he continued northwsrd. no
ticing sulphurous fountains and coal on the
Red Deer, q branch Of the Bow river. DE.
ssending the valley Of the Red Deer, which
is also described in very glowing terms, at
length he emerged upon what he describes
a. q" the vast plain--the ocean Of prairies. /"
On the evening Of the same day, the mission
ary reached and was Hospitality received at
the Rocky Mountain House, latitude SO
and longitude lis; and on the 3lst CT Oc-
tober started for another journey on the
plains but after two weeks absence, was
compelled to seek refuge from the approach
OF winter then the middle OF November) at
Edmonton House on the upper Sssxatche-
wan From this shelter he thus wrote in
general terms:
"The entire region In the vicinity Of the first
eastern chain Of the Rocky Mountains, serving
% their base for thirty or sixty miles. 10 sx-
remely fertile, abounding in forests, plains,
prairiss, lakes, streams and mineral springs.
The rivers and streams are innumerable, and
on every side offer situations favorable for the
construction OF mills. The northern and south
district have uAversed for distance Of three
hundred milss. Forests Of pine. cypress, thorn.
poplar asd aspen trees, ~ we'll - others Of
different kinds, occupy large portion Of IT,
covering the declivitiss OF the mountains and
banks Of the rivers.
These originally take their rise In the high
est chains, whence they issue in every dirsc.
these rivers are pebbly and their course rapid,
but a. they recede from the mouutsins they
widen, and the currents lsse something OF their
impetuosity. Their waters are usually very
clear. The country would be capable Of sup.
porting Q large population, and the soil Ia 10
vorabIe for the production OF barley, corn, po.
tatoss and beans, which grow here just ~ well
o. In the more southern countries.
Are these vast and innumerable fields Of
hay forever destined 10 be consumed by the
hre or perish in the autumnal SHOWS? How
long shall these superb forests be the haunts
Of wild beasts And these nexhaus.ible quar-.
rics, these saperabundsnt mines Of coal, lead,
sulphur, IRON, copper and saltpetre--cAn 1t be
that they are doomed TO remain forever mac
tive Not so. The time will come when some
laboring hand will give them value; strong,
active and energetic people are destined to ill
this spacious void. The Wild beasts will, ere
long, give place to our domestic animals +,
ilocks and herds will Craze in the beautiful
meadows that border the numberlsss noun
tains hills, valleys and plains OF this extensive
region
4. THE ArHABAscA PoRrAGE-Y our ex.
ploration Of the Saskatchewan Effected, the
transit OF the Rocky Mountains will be the
next prominent incident of the journey.
A witness before a Committee Of the
British Parliament. Mr. John Miles, in de-
scribng route from Boat Encampmcnt on
the Columbia river 10 point very near the
richest gold fields of Frazer aud Thompson
rivers) to the Rocky Mountain House,
stated that frem the Boa: Eucampment it
is two days level walk" on the bead OF the
Columbia, before reaching the mountain, -
good days walk and hard work too TO
reach the summit, and three days before get
ting out Of the mountain ridges altogether
six days IN all. On the summit Of the Ath.
abasca Portage Is small lake called on
some maps Committees Punch Bowl,
which sends its tribute from oue end TO the
Columbia and from the other TO the Mack.
ensie.
5. SouRcxs OF ruE CoLUnBIA.-I suppose
that no portion Of the continent is so little
known, but nevertheless 50 attractive in
all its natural features and resources. as
the district which is watered by the upper
Columbia and its tributary. the M'GillivSy
or Flaibow river. David Thompson, in
1907. selected the source Of the Columbia
Is the site OF a trading post with the koo-
tonais or Flatbow Indians. Since that
l., al l. 4, a.