[9] The bighorn is something like an ordinary sheep, but with very large head, and curling horns of enormous size. The “mouton blanc” resembles the common goat, but has soft, white hair, more like wool. The Indians of British Columbia weave beautiful blankets of this material. Both the “mouton blanc” and “gris” frequent the highest crags, and are active as the chamois. [10] The Iroquois are Canadian Indians, so celebrated in our war with the French in Canada. They are perhaps the most expert canoemen in the world, and were employed by Sir George Simpson and other governors of the Hudson’s Bay Company, in their journeys from Canada through the Hudson’s Bay territories, most of which were performed by water. Many stayed behind at the different forts, and at this day Iroquois half-breeds are met with at the Company’s forts even in British Columbia. [11] According to the observations of Dr. Rae, with small aneroid barometer. [12] Dr. Rae. [13] Lieut. Palmer, R.E. [14] See reports of Captain Palliser’s expedition, published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society for 1860. [15] Journal of Royal Geographical Society for 1860; Dr. Hector’s Report. [16] From the observations of Dr. Rae. [17] From the observations of Dr. Rae. [18] There is a most striking difference, however, between the general physique and features of the two sexes amongst the true Red Indians. The men are tall, and their features bold and prominent, the nose being generally Roman. The women are generally rather short, their faces rounder, and the nose squat. This difference was well shown in the case of The Assiniboine and his wife, of whom excellent portraits are given in the Frontispiece. [19] Chinook is a jargon which was invented by the Hudson’s Bay Company for the purpose of facilitating communication with the different Indian tribes. These were so numerous, and their languages so various, that the traders found it impossible to learn them all, and adopted the device of a judicious mixture of English, French, Russian, and several Indian tongues, which has a very limited vocabulary; but which, by the help of signs, is readily understood by all the natives, and serves as a common language. [20] _Vide_ “Prize Essay on British Columbia,” by the Rev. R. C. L. Brown, M.A., Minister of St. Mary’s, Lilloet. [21] _Vide_ “Overland Route to British Columbia,” by Henry Youle Hind, M.A., F.R.G.S., and “Narrative of Canadian Exploring Expedition,” by the same Author; also Captain Palliser’s Report in the “Journal of the Royal Geographical Society for 1860.” [22] _Vide_ Dr. Rathray, “Vancouver Island, and British Columbia.” [23] A grass-widow in America is a woman who has separated or been divorced from her husband. [Illustration: General Map of BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.] Transcriber’s Notes Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in the original book; otherwise they were not changed.