For considerable distances on the west coast rocky precipitous mountains face the sea, in places not less than 1,500 feet in height, almost perpendicular, rising over 4,000 feet within a few miles back. When running the guantlet of the storms along these forbidding shores we looked into the mouths of several dark caverns of unknown depth. Twice Indian Tom raised his paddle, placed four small wads of tobacco thereon, and, with a supplicating motion of his right hand toward these caverns, made an offering to the spirits which are supposed to inhabit them, praying that we might have a safe voyage. Here we found what I believe to be the grandest scenery of the Queen Charlotte Islands. We had been pulling for six hours against head winds, squalls and rough seas along this rocky, high walled shore, which seemed to offer no place where a landing would be possible, when suddenly the canoe turned toward land, ran through a narrow rock bound passage into a little basin about fifty rods square, surrounded by mountains rising precipitously from 1500 to 2500 feet, down which ten cataracts were plunging. Grand View Inlet, or whatever it may be called, is situated about eight miles south of Tasso Harbor. As we were leaving it two land otters were seen swimming near the shore. Giving chase, one of them ran out upon the land, where, after an exciting hunt with dogs, it was killed. One evening, as we were camping in a rocky cove, Indian Sam suddenly seized his gun, ran down to the shore, and mounted a great rock where seal had been seen. Presently he fired, and then stripping off his shirt, dove headlong into the sea. He soon rose to the surface grasping a great seal, with which he swam to the shore. Although they had eaten a hearty supper, they sat up until midnight gorging themselves with its excessively fat meat. They had one continual feast from the beginning to the end of the expedition, devouring, besides the supplies taken with us, seal, wild geese, duck, octopus, clams, halibut, mussels, sea eggs, bird's eggs, fish spawn, salmon, etc., in great quantities. On the thirty-third day after leaving Massett, I returned to Skidegate through the Canoe Passage and Skidegate Channel, where I again refitted for the west coast of Graham Island and the Virago Sound country, next to be traversed. NEWTON H. CHITTENDEN. * * * * * CORRESPONDENCE, NO. III.