Alaska and the Klondike. By Angelo Heilprin. (C. A. Pearson.
7s. 6d.)—Mr. Heilprin journeyed to' Dawson City and back from Skagway, a place which will not be found even in recent maps, but which may be described as being in the narrow strip of coast territory belonging to the States that shuts off Canada here from the sea. It lies between seventy and eighty miles east from Mount Fair. weather, a name which will be found in any good recent map. There is a choice of routes from Skagway,—the White Pass and the Chilcoot. Mr. Heilprin selected, or was compelled to take, the former, and accomplished his journey in leas than a day and a half. The chief trial was the enormous number of dead horses on the way ; two or three months before there had been on an average one for every sixty yards. After this the travelling was mostly by water, and comparatively easy. Dawson was reached in about a week after the start had been made. The descrip- tion of the place includes not a few curiosities. But at that time, at least, though prices were high, there was no scarcity. However, 83 for a quart of milk is sufficiently startling. Clearly a young family would be expensive ; but, then, young families are not found there. Bass's ale cost £1 a quart. Flour was about 10d. per pound. In view of these and similar figures it must be confessed that 16z. was not an exorbitant price for the hotels to charge for three meals. Dessert did not include melons, which cost ..e5 apiece. Horse meat was more costly than man's meat. In July it fetched £250 the ton ; which works out at more than 2s. per pound, or £3 15s the truss. The chapter on Dawson society is amusing. So are many other things in the book. Of course there is a business element in it. The author has muchto say about claims, traffic, means of approach, &c.
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