, 1853-07-09

that it has sunk bodily down until the trees
were entirely submerged The whole mass
appears to be 50 matted to,ethcr by the
roots as TO prevent their separation. Chan
ce', by the same undermining process were
observed to be going on continually in o:hcr
paris of the river.
On the 1th Of June, they had a favora-
be wind, but it blew so hard that they wer,
obliged to reef their sail, and afterwards
found the waves and wind too heavy for
them to run without great danger they in
consequence put on shore until it abltej.-
In these forty miles Of the river, it usually
blows a gale from the westward in the sum
mer season, almost daily.
In the evening they reached within seven
miles of the Dalles and four below the mis-
sion. Here the roar Of the water at the
Dalles was heard distinctly
The country had now assumed different
aspect the trees began to decrease in num-
Der, and the land 10 look dry and burnt up
Before pitching their tents, the men We're
beating about the bushes to drive away the
rattlesnakcs, a number of which were kill
ed, and preserved as specimens.
In the morning they were again on their
route, and reached Little river, from which
the station of the Methodist mission is three
fourths of a mile distant. Here they were
met by Mr.. Perkins, who was waiting for
his letters and some packages of goods the
brigade had brought Mr.. Drayton accom-
panied Mr.. Perkins TO the mission, while
the brigade moved on towards the Dalles.-
Mr. Daniel Lee, the principal ofthe mission
was found near the house, engaged in reap
ins his wheat.
At this station there are three families,
those of Rev. Mr.. Lee, Mr. Perkins, and
lay member, who is a farmer Their re-
cep'ion OF MIR. Drsyton was exceedingly
kind
The mission consists of two log and board
houses, hewn, sawed, and built by them
selves, with i small barn and several out
houses. The buildings are situated on high
ground, among scattered oaks, and immcdi-
ately in the rear is an extensive wood of
oaks and pines, with numerous sharp aud
jigged knolls and obelisk looking pillars OF
nterspers2d among basatic
rocks in front is an alluvial plain, having
gradual descent towards the river, and ex-
tending to the right and left. This contains
about two thousand acres Of good land, well
supplied with springs, with Little river, and
other smaller streams passing through it.
The soil is made up Of d-composed con-
glomerate, and in places shows a deep black
loan. Around this tract the land is high
devoid of moisture, and covered with basal
tic rocks or sand.
They here raise wheat and potatoes by
irrigation the latter grow in great pcrfec-
tion, and wheat yields twenty to thirty bu
shells to the acre. They had just gathered
a crop of two hundred bushels from land
which they irrigate by means Of several
fine streams near their houses. They might
raise much more, if they were disposed
The summers here were much hotter than
at Vancouver, and consequently drier; the
spring rains cease here earlier, and the peo-
pie harvest in June.
There are only a few Indians residing
near the mission during the winter, and
these are a very miserable set, who live in
holes in the ground, not unlike a clay oven,
in order to keep warm. They are too lazy
to cut wood for their fires The number
that visit the DalIes during the fishing
season, is about fifteen hundred these
are fom all the country round, and are
generally the oulawed OF the different vii
lagos. The missionaries complain much OF
their insolent behavior, and OF the thieving
habits, both Of the visiters, and those who
reside permanently at the falls. They are,
therefore, very dcsirous of having few
settlers near, that they may have some pro-
lection from this annoyance, as they are
frequently under apprehension that their
lives will be taken.
1t is not to b, expected that the missiona,
ries could be abl1 to make much progress
with such a set, and they of course feel
somewhat discouraged, though they have
succeeded in obtaining moral influence
over a few.
The river, between the Cascades and III,
Dallos, a distance of forty miles, has no
rarids, and is navigable for vessels drawing
twelve feet Of water 1t passes through
high rocky banks of basalt
The missionaries informed Mr. Drayton,
that the salmon fishery at the Dalles lasts
six months, and that sturgeon are taken du-
ring the greater paat of the year.
The mission is three miles from the Dalles.
On Mr.. Draylon reaching the lower point
OF the portage, he found Mr.. Ogden en-
eamPed, and a boat load of packages spread
out to dry. 1t appeared that one of the
boats had 5ilged in passing up, and rcqui-
red repairs. The place was luckily fitted
for these operations, as it had but one en-
trance 10 protect against about thousand
Indians, on the look out for whatever they
could pick up, and who required the whole
force Of the brigade 10 keep them in check
The Dallcs is appropriately called the
B,llingsgate of Oregon. The diversity Of
dress among the men was greater even than