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[Illustration: AT THE FOOT OF THE CHILKOOT PASS]

                                 ALONG
                         ALASKA'S GREAT RIVER

             A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THE TRAVELS OF AN ALASKA
                 EXPLORING EXPEDITION ALONG THE GREAT
                  YUKON RIVER, FROM ITS SOURCE TO ITS
                   MOUTH, IN THE BRITISH NORTH-WEST
                           TERRITORY, AND IN
                           THE TERRITORY OF
                                ALASKA.


                                  BY

                          FREDERICK SCHWATKA,

    LAURENTE OF THE PARIS GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND OF THE IMPERIAL
            GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF RUSSIA; HONORARY MEMBER
          BREMEN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC., COMMANDER
                          OF THE EXPEDITION.

              TOGETHER WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE
                           KLONDIKE COUNTRY.

                         _FULLY ILLUSTRATED._

                           CHICAGO NEW YORK
                        GEORGE M. HILL COMPANY
                                MDCCCC

                           COPYRIGHT, 1898,
                           GEO. M. HILL CO.




PREFACE.


These pages narrate the travels, in a popular sense, of an Alaskan
exploring expedition. The expedition was organized with seven members
at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, and left Portland, Oregon, ascending
through the inland passage to Alaska, as far as the Chilkat country. At
that point the party employed over three score of the Chilkat Indians,
the hardy inhabitants of that ice-bound country, to pack its effects
across the glacier-clad pass of the Alaskan coast range of mountains to
the headwaters of the Yukon. Here a large raft was constructed, and on
this primitive craft, sailing through nearly a hundred and fifty miles
of lakes, and shooting a number of rapids, the party floated along the
great stream for over thirteen hundred miles; the longest raft journey
ever made on behalf of geographical science. The entire river, over two
thousand miles, was traversed, the party returning home by Bering Sea,
and touching the Aleutian Islands.

The opening up of the great gold fields in the region of the upper
Yukon, has added especial interest to everything pertaining to the
great North-west. The Klondike region is the cynosure of the eyes
of all, whether they be in the clutches of the gold fever or not.
The geography, the climate, the scenery, the birds, beasts, and even
flowers of the country make fascinating subjects. In view of the new
discoveries in that part of the world, a new chapter, Chapter XIII, is
given up to a detailed description of the Klondike region. The numerous
routes by which it may be reached are described, and all the details as
to the possibilities and resources of the country are authoritatively
stated.

  CHICAGO, March, 1898.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER.                                                         PAGE.

     I.  INTRODUCTORY                                                  9

    II.  THE INLAND PASSAGE TO ALASKA                                 12

   III.  IN THE CHILKAT COUNTRY                                       36

    IV.  OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASS                                       53

     V.  ALONG THE LAKES                                              90

    VI.  A CHAPTER ABOUT RAFTING                                     131

   VII.  THE GRAND CAÑON OF THE YUKON                                154

  VIII.  DOWN THE RIVER TO SELKIRK                                   175

    IX.  THROUGH THE UPPER RAMPARTS                                  207

     X.  THROUGH THE YUKON FLAT-LANDS                                264

    XI.  THROUGH THE LOWER RAMPARTS AND END OF RAFT JOURNEY          289

   XII.  DOWN THE RIVER AND HOME                                     313

  XIII.  THE KLONDIKE REGIONS                                        346

   XIV.  DISCOVERY AND HISTORY                                       368

    XV.  The People and Their Industries                             386

   XVI.  GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES                                       413




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                                    PAGE

  FRONTISPIECE (DRAWN BY WM. SCHMEDTGEN)
  THE INLAND PASSAGE                                                  12
  SCENES IN THE INLAND PASSAGE                                        19
  SITKA, ALASKA                                                       29
  CHILKAT BRACELET                                                    36
  PYRAMID HARBOR, CHILKAT INLET                                       43
  CHILKAT INDIAN PACKER                                               53
  METHODS OF TRACK