Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-04-07

was clogged with drift timber. Every
where along the shores of the lake this
drift timber was to be seen. Whenever
we tried to land this driftwood on the
lake shore, ut this high stage OF
water, barred our way more or less ef-
fectually, and we were lucky indeed
where the driftwood was solid, and we
could carry the boats ashore fr m its
outer margin. In nine cases out OF ten,
however, che outer fringe OF logs were
loose in the water, would roll over
when stepped upoa, and this combined
with their slippery, Shiny sides made
landing an athletic undertaking not
very agreeable in our stiffened condi-
ton, alter several hours in the boat.
About noon our wind died out and
the rest of the day we spent at the
oars. The middle of the afternoon
wind set in stiffiy from the north and
delayed us great deal. This alterna-
ton of forenoon and afternoon winds
in opposite directions we found to be
cutie common but with considerable
diversity rs to the time of day when
the change took place. About noon we
saw a large river coming in from the
cast. by o'clock we reached Clih
Point on the eastward, the first abrupt
promontory on the lake that we hal
met. 1t was granite, some Is to 100
feet perpendicular and q most pictur-
esque and conspicuous break to tho
gentle gradients SO characteristic OF
the shores of Ahk-klain. There
were twenty-three great big miles to
our credit that evening, distance that
appears insignificant now. looking
back from the land of railroads and
ocean greyhounds, but that made camp
seem like a foreign country from tho
place we had left in the morning by
comparison with our former gait. The
next day, June 10, was almost a repeti-
ton Of the one described. About noon
that day we came abreast Of the Carl
bon range, SO called by the Indians.
This is q most conspicuous insulated
cluster Of peaks on the west shore,
around which the lake slightly bends
as if divided at this point into two great
arms. The first days boating ha d
not given us a single rise" with three
trolling lines set out, but this day, when
we saw some fish jumping, the trolls
were again cast and two salmon trout.
With q twcnty-seven mile record that
day we felt like camping early, but the
driftwood vetoed our efforts and
warned us ccnvincingly that If we
wanted to get all work done before
dark we must hereafter seek an early
camp to compensate for time lost in
this way. We got away early the Goth,
as a spanking Lrecze our way induced
us to press matters while it lasted.
About we passed the mouth of the
Keen-klain (lIeen-river in Think
it), or Big River of the Indians. 1t
comes in from the east and is 100 to 1879
yards wide. Its valley is conspicuous,
and can be traced back inland for forty
to fifty miles; large snow.clad hills
fanking it on the southwest. 1t Is EVIL
IDENTITY the largest river draining into
Ahk-klain. Hero a couple of Takou In
dians, in a light birch bark canoe, pad
bled over to us from the west side, hay
ing previously signalled us by gun
shot. They had some uninviting dried
moose-meat with them. but we bought
the best looking piece among the lot,
they, us usual, getting the hest end of
the bargain. That evenings meal had
the best the market afforded, there be-
ing gulls' eggs, moosc-meat and salmon
trout, with pork and beans for dessert.
The record for the day was twenty five
niles, the greater part being done by
good, honest rowing. The next day,
in the early afternoon, the lake be-
gan to narrow rapidly, and the outlet
could be seen among lot of white
broken banks. At ago we en-.
tered the draining river and
once more took good gait without
laboring for it. That day we made
twenty miles on the lake, or ninety-five
In all. 1t Is therefore safe to assert
that Ahk-klain is over one hundred
miles in length and will therefore take
its place among the great lakes of the
British American Northwest; a land
famous for its large lakes. The land OF
the Takons may be said to end with it.,
the farthest inland Of any of the Tin
kits Yet l came in contact several
times with the fact that they kne W
something Of Tlinkit band, the
Stickcens, showing that a probable in
land communication existed between
them. The Stickeen country is around
Wrngc II, Alaska, this town dope ndi ng
on the Cassiar mines, reached from
Wranyell by the Sticl;c,n river. This
stream Is navigable for 14O miles. then
there arc some scventy-1ve miles by
pack-tr train to Dease Lake, and twenty.
Ave miles over it to Cassiar. A II through
this land the Stickeens have been en-.
ployed and may have extended their
trading excursions to the TalSou
land of lakes. Kat-o-shan, the pes
emit Stickeen chief, gave me int
tcresting information rs to the use tc
which the Tlinket totem-poles are pu-
and regarding which there are a mum.
Der of conjectures. lie said that ex
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