s 3,809
feet; that of the Lewes at the Teslintoo, from the same authority, is
3,015 feet. Had the above cross-section been reduced to the level at
which the water ordinarily stands during the summer months, instead of
to the height at which it stood in the middle of September when it was
almost at its lowest, the sectional area would have been at least 50 per
cent more, and at spring flood level about double the above area.

"It is a difficult matter to determine the actual discharge at the place
of the cross-section, owing to the irregularity in the depth and
current, the latter being in the deep channel at the east side, when I
tried it in September, approximately 4.8 miles per hour; while on the
bar in midstream it was not more than 2.5 miles per hour; and between
the bar and the westerly shore there was very little current.

"The river above this for some miles was no better for the purpose of
cross-section measurement. At the boundary it is narrow and clear of
bars and islands for some miles, but here I did not have an opportunity
to determine the rate of the current before the river froze up, and
after it froze the drift ice was jammed and piled so high that it would
have been an almost endless task to cut holes through it.

"The current from the boundary down to the confluence with the Porcupine
is said to be strong and much the same as that above; from the Porcupine
down, for a distance of five or six hundred miles it is called medium
and the remainder easy.

"From Stewart River to the mouth of the Yukon is about 1,650 miles, and
the only difficult place in all this distance is the part near the
confluence with the Porcupine, which has evidently been a lake in past
ages but is now filled with islands; it is said that the current here is
swift, and the channels generally narrow, rendering navigation
difficult."

CHAPTER III.

ADVICE TO BEGINNERS.

Men who are thinking of going to the Klondyke regions and taking a trip
of this character for the first time, will do well to carefully read the
chapter on "Outfit for Miners." It is a great mistake to take anything
except what is necessary; the trip is a long arduous one, and a man
should not add one pound of baggage to his outfit that can be dispensed
with. I have known men who have loaded themselves up with rifles,
revolvers and shot-guns. This is entirely unnecessary. Revolvers will
get you into trouble, and there is no use of taking them with you, as