, 1853-07-02

slry before anything can be accomplished.
now saw that it was a hopcl IS task to at
tempt to overcome their perfect uoncha-
lance. Time, haste, clothes, presents, are
nothing to them rum is the only thing that
will move them at all tim 3, Of this hai
none, nor should have ma lie us, Of it il
had. When Plumondon had exhausted his
words on lh'm without effect, we rode off,
succeeded IN passing the mountain quickly,
and were well satIsf d that we had thus
shown our independence
have noticed the excessive love that the
whole Indian population seem 10 have for
rum many Of these poor creatures would
| labor for days, and submit 10 all sorts Of fa-
tigue, for the sake of small ianrity. No
9th T induccmcnl will move them in the sal
mon ard cammass seasons, for then they
have nothing more to desire.
Towards night we cncampcd on a small
/ prairie, where the grasses, flowers, and trees,
were in every variety Of bloom.
The Indians on the Chickecies river were
engaged in the salmon fishery. This is cl-
iected by stalking the river across with poles,
and constructing fixes or fsh-hocs, through
which the fish are obliged to pass. Over
these are created tranglcs 10 support a stag,
ing, on which the Indians stand, with nets
and spears, and take the fish as they attempt
to pass through the fish are then dried by
smoking, and prepared for future use. The
smoked fish are packed in baskets but the
supply is far short of their wants.
The next morning we set out early, and
reached the opposite bank Of Shuie's river.
On the following day before noon, re-
turned to Nisqually, fully as enchanted
with the beautiful park scenery as when
passed it before To it was now added oc-
casiona peeps Of Mount Rainer's high and
snowy peak.
On my return TO Nisqually, found that
news had been received from the various
surveying and exploring paIties, all ofwhich
It was reported were advancing rapidly in
the execution of their duties. The prepara-
tions for the scientific operations, which had
been left 10 the charge Of Lieutenant Carr,
were all completed, and the two log houses
had been built, in which We now b, gan to
perform the pendulum experiments, and
make astronomic observations In these
we were engaged until the 1th of July As
the details Of them will be given in another
place, ! shall only advert here to the opera
tons which | entrusted to Mr. Drayton, and
which will form lh, subject OF the present
chapter.
Ii was stated in the preceding chapter,
that through Mr.. Osd.n's kindness, pas
sage was offered up The Columbia river as
far as Walla-walla. 1t had been my orig
lnal intention to despatch party from the
Peacock in this direction, to cross the Rocky
Mountains to the head waters Of Yellow
stone river and l had engaged Mr.. Rog-
ers to accompany it. Orders for the pur-
pose had been prepared, and left 10 be de-
livered to Captain Hudson when he should
arrive.
now, however, began 10 apprchend that
some serious accident had happened to that
vessel, and deemed it important TO secure
at all events. the examination Of 50 interest
ing part Of this country, particularly when
it could be performed under such circum-
stances as those off red by Mr. Ogden.-
, Mr.. Dray ton was therefore detached to make
this jaunt, and to his industry and observa-
, ton | am indebted for many Of the facts
about to be detailed For others of them
; have TO acknowledge my obligation TO the
missionaries, and the officers Of the Hudson
Bay Company.
} Previous to the departure Of the brigade,
MIR. Drayton had made many collections in
, natural history. Afler left him, the wealth.
er continued very rainy for several days,
, and the Columbia in consequence began to
rise again rapidly; the low praries were
ovcrfowed, and the wheat in many places
was injured. TO show the porous nature
! of the soil, will mention that the well al
Vancouver rises and falls with the river,
, although 1t is quarter of a mile from the
: bank. This Is not the case in any other
= part Of the territory where wells are sunk F.;
but have little doubt would occur on any
o: the low prairics Of tho Columbia, for the
! s1il of all Of them seems very similar At
Vancouver they use the river in preference
t. the well water, though they do not con-
, sder the latter as unwholesome.
: Mr.. Drayton obtained in the mill pond,
specimens Of a beautiful spotted trout, which
T is abundant here. They TAX, the bait readi-
5 ly, and we've caught with pieces of dried
C salmon they feed upon insects, and small
= white moths are their lavourite bait, al
c which they are seen to spring most greedily.
5 Until the 2jih, repairs were making to
r the boats, and preparations were going on
for embaTkng the goods. The shape oil
1 these boats has before been described they
+ have great strength and buoyancy, carry
r three tons weight, and have a crew Of eigh
!, men, besides padroon they are Thirty feel
e long and five and half feet beam, sharp al
= both cnds, clnker-built, and have no knees
= In building them, flat tinbeis Of oak are ben
= to the requisite shap, by steaming they ar,
bolleI to a Cat keel, at distances of a loo
r from each other; the planks arc of cedar