Produced by Jens Nordmann, Greg Bergquist and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) Transcriber's Notes: The original spelling and minor inconsistencies in the spelling and formatting have been maintained. The ligature oe has been marked as [oe]. A list with all corrections applied to the text has been added at the end of the text. Formatting: Text in italics has been marked with underscores (_text_) and bold text using the equals sign (=text=). [Illustration: COLUMBIA RIVER, LOOKING EASTWARD FROM ROCK BLUFF.] Wonderland; OR ALASKA AND THE INLAND PASSAGE BY LIEUT. FREDERICK SCHWATKA. WITH A Description of the Country Traversed by the Northern Pacific Railroad. BY JOHN HYDE, Author of "The Wonderland Route to the Pacific Coast," "Alice's Adventures in the New Wonderland," etc., etc. Copyrighted, 1886, by CHAS. S. FEE, General Passenger Agent Northern Pacific Railroad, St. Paul. [Illustration: Rand McNally & Co.] PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS, CHICAGO INTRODUCTORY. "Multi discurrent, et augebitur _stultitia_." Thus did one of the profoundest of modern thinkers parody the prediction of the Hebrew prophet who foretold the time when, with increased facilities for travel and intercommunication, there should come a great enlargement of the bounds of knowledge, and a corresponding amelioration of the condition of humanity. It would, however, be strange indeed, if the complex process of social evolution, even in its present stage, were not marked by some of the indications of a retrograde movement. The age in which we live has undoubtedly its peculiar follies and foibles, which are but thrown into relief by the qualities that more generally distinguish it. But many are running to and fro, and knowledge is being increased. Nature is revealing herself to the traveler in new forms and aspects, and disclosing to his wondering gaze mysterious pages of her great book hitherto hidden from him. And while extensive tracts of country, presenting physical features to which the entire known world furnishes no parallel, have been brought by railroad enterprise within reach alike of the curious sight-seer and the inquiring student, a vast region, of almost unexampled wealth-producing capabilities, has, by the same agency, been thrown open to that advancing tide of civilization which is rapidly overspreading the world.