[Footnote AF:  This is interesting, as the rough calculation of an unscientific traveller, unprovided with instruments, and at that date.  The real height of the Rocky Mountains, as now ascertained, averages twelve thousand feet; the highest known peak is about sixteen thousand.—­ED.]

They offer a vast and unexplored field to natural history:  no botanist, no mineralogist, has yet examined them.  The first travellers called them the Glittering mountains, on account of the infinite number of immense rock crystals, which, they say, cover their surface, and which, when they are not covered with snow, or in the bare places, reflect to an immense distance the rays of the sun.  The name of Rocky mountains was given them, probably, by later travellers, in consequence of the enormous isolated rocks which they offer here and there to the view.  In fact, Millet’s rock, and M’Gillivray’s above all, appeared to me wonders of nature.  Some think that they contain metals, and precious stones.

With the exception of the mountain sheep and goat, the animals of the Rocky mountains, if these rocky passes support any, are not better known than their vegetable and mineral productions.  The mountain sheep resorts generally to steep rocks, where it is impossible for men or even for wolves to reach them:  we saw several on the rocks which surround the Mountain House.  This animal has great curved horns, like those of the domestic ram:  its wool is long, but coarse; that on the belly is the finest and whitest.  The Indians who dwell near the mountains, make blankets of it, similar to ours, which they exchange with the Indians of the Columbia for fish, and other commodities.  The ibex, or mountain goat, frequents, like the sheep, the top and the declivities of the rocks:  it differs from the sheep in having hair instead of wool, and straight horns projecting backward, instead of curved ones.  The color is also different.  The natives soften the horns of these animals by boiling, and make platters, spoons, &c., of them, in a very artistic manner.

Mr. Decoigne had not sufficient food for us, not having expected so many people to arrive at once.  His hunters were then absent on Smoke river (so called by some travellers who saw in the neighborhood a volcanic mountain belching smoke), in quest of game.  We were therefore compelled to kill one of the horses for food.  We found no birch bark either to make canoes, and set the men to work in constructing some of wood.  For want of better materials, we were obliged to use poplar.  On the 22d, the three men whom we had left at the old-house, arrived in a little canoe made of two elk-skins sewed together, and stretched like a drum, on a frame of poles.

On the 24th, four canoes being ready, we fastened them together two and two, and embarked, to descend the river to an old post called Hunter’s Lodge, where Mr. Decoigne, who was to return with us to Canada, informed us that we should find some bark canoes en cache, placed there for the use of the persons who descend the river.  The water was not deep, and the stream was rapid; we glided along, so to speak, for ten or a dozen leagues, and encamped, having lost sight of the mountains.  In proportion as we advanced, the banks of the river grew less steep, and the country became more agreeable.