water. hind us. Just beyond them the Notokákat, or Dall River of Ketchum, enters the Yukon from the north. The latter river is very broad at this point. We passed through some very strong Not the least annoyance in this kind of travel is the constant complaining of the Indians, unused to steady hard work and ever ready to shirk, doing on principle the least they can. Monday, 17th.- We enjoyed from our camp a fine view of the end of the Ramparts and the intervening islands. Passed by several deserted houses formerly inhabited by some Indians of the Kutchin tribes, who all died five years ago of the scarlet fever. This fever was introduced by a trading-vessel at the mouth of the Chilkaht River. From the Chilkáht Indians it spread to those of the Upper Yukon, and down the river to this point, where all died and the disease spent itself. These are known to the English as the Small Houses, and the locality is an excellent one for game and fish of all kinds. The women were left behind on an island in the morning, and the Indians, relieved of the heavy canoes, were already far in advance of us. Tuesday, 18th. One of the few who accompanied us followed a cow-moose in the water until tired out, when he killed her with his knife, and with some difficulty we towed her ashore. We occasionally saw a black bear or a Canada lynx on the bank. For several days we kept steadily on, little of interest occurring. It was noticed that the trees began to grow smaller and more sparse as we ascended the river. The sun hardly dipped below the horizon at midnight, and his noontide rays scorched like a furnace. The mosquitoes were like smoke in the air. Through constant and enforced observation, I came to distinguish four kinds, — a large gray one, and another with white leg-joints, a very small dust-colored one which held its proboscis horizontally in advance, and another small one which carried its probe in the orthodox manner. All were distinguished from the civilized species by the reckless daring of their attack. Thousands might be killed before their eyes, yet the survivors sounded their trumpets and carried on the war. A blanket offered them no impediment; buckskin alone defied their art. At meal-times, forced to remove our nets, we sat until nearly stifled in the smoke, and, emerging for a breath of air, received no mercy. My companion's hands, between sunburn and mos |