The returning miners have all told the same story of the journey and the
lack of provisions, but, in spite of this, crowds of men are hurrying
into this country which is already on the verge of famine. Those who
have taken food with them are unable to get it carried to its
destination, and it is said that the road is now blocked with it. The
only means of transportation is by Indians on mule-back; the mules are
very scarce, and the Indians only work when they feel like it. The
chances are that many men will be starving in the Klondike this winter,
while barrels and boxes of food will be piled mountain-high at the last
station, waiting to be carried through the long succession of waterways
and portages. A portage is a place between lakes and rivers where the
waters become so shallow or rapid that they cannot be navigated, and the
boats have to be lifted ashore and carried overland until it is possible
to take to the water again.

[Illustration: CROSSING THE CHILKOOT PASS]

The word Klondike is said to be a mispronunciation of the Indian words
"thron dak" or "duick," which means "plenty of fish," from the fact
that the Klondike is a famous salmon stream. The river is marked
"Tondak" on the Canadian maps.

In the Klondike district are a number of rivers flowing eastward from
the Yukon. In all of these gold has been found. The Stewart River, which
lies south of the Klondike, has been found to be as rich in gold as the
Klondike, and it is confidently asserted that the Alaskan side of this
region is as rich in gold as the British Columbian.

But, so far, all the gold-fields have been located in British Columbia,
and the great rush for them has been from the United States.