, 1854-08-19

p ing through two prairies which we went
round. Next day We crossed the river
and after cutting through about two miles
} of dense cedar forest, reached the prairie
spoken of, which we called, from its shape,
the Half Moon prairie, and is the second
in size that we saw on the WillOpa. The
distance from where we started to this, is
about 10 miles. At the Half Moon prai.
rie we again found the tracks of the run.
away guides, and followed them mostly for
about eight miles TO the Elk prairie, where
we encamped for the night. Between
these we passed through only one small
prairie, but the last half of the route hav-
ing been before marked, the labor of cut
ting the way was much less. At this prai-
ric several Indians were encamped drying
elk meat, having come through from the
Chehalis since the Cowlitz party came, and
brought horses with them. The Shook
um or evil Spirit" which had kept
them away for twenty years, they now sup
pose to be destroyed by the arrival of the
whites, and rich hunting ground again
opened to them. The valley Of the Wallo-
pa from its mouth to this prairie is about
thirty-fve miles long, and probably from
five to ten wide. tbs all well adapted for
cultivation and stock raising-has an abun-
dance Of timber and water. For about
ten miles up it flows mostly through tide
lands, which are covered by excellent grass
growing three or four feet high. Good
crops of other kinds, such as potatoes, gar
den vegetables, &C., have already been
raised on many parts Of these meadows,
and this season several are trying wheat
and other grains with prospect Of heavy
crops. 1t is overAowed only by the high
est winter tides, while branches and Sloughs
make it oil accessible from the river by
boats -..l
For about five miles above the tide lands
the river is lined by higher bottom land
covered with growth Of maple, alder and
bushes, with few scattered fir and spruce
trees. Part Of this is overlooked in the
winter, but it is generally considered the
best land on the river for cultivation, and
where cultivated has produced excellent
crops. About the head Of steam boat
navigation the prairies commence and con-
tinue up TO the Elk prairie which the In
dians say is the last on the river. We
passed through nine, which will average at
least two sections Of land each, and there
is said to be three OF four more The soil
on these is rich alluvial mould, and they
are all high and dry, unless the last is a
little marshy in the winter. Claims have
been taken on nearly all of these prairies,
some since our passage through them. The
soil is less gravellY -aHa- dry than on the
Chehalis, as we found soon after. No hard
rock was seen anywhere through this val
ley, the subsoil being a clay, generally soft
but in some places about as hard as sun
dried brick or adobis.p The hills where
ever crossed were found to consist of this,
and covered with q rich mould. The tim
Der, like that all around the bay, consists
Of yellow fir, white and red spruce, hemlock
and cedar ON the hills, and maple, cedar
and cotton wood along the rivers. Signs
Of elk, deer and bear were very abundant,
but the noise of large party prevented
our getting any on the return, though sew
eral were seen.
On the morning Of the third day we
again started, and leaving the Willopa
crossed the divide as before mentioned, and
about sunset reached the Woheche prairie.
There is but one bad hill (perhaps fifty
feet steep ascent), to be crossed and this
can probably be entirely avoided by anoth-
er trail, known only to one Indian, who
was sick when the party went through
This hill is in crossing kanyon through
which flows small branch of the Chehalis,
aud the other trail is said to avoid this, and
to be also much more direct The distance
Of eighteen miles can probably DO shorten
ed to less than fourteen. As soon as we
struck the branches of the Chehalis, the
timber suddenly changed from the trees
before mentioned to red fir only, Of great
size, with some cedar in the lower grounds.
The soil appeared also more gravelly, and
the prairie much moro dried up. This
branch Of the Chehalis flows over q hard
rock, in some parts volcanic, in others hard
slate and grey stone Of excellent quality
for grind stones. Lower down is bed Of
coal which has been tried and said to be
of good quality. We encamped on the
Woheche prairie, and early the next morn
ing two Of the party descended in canoe
to the Boisfort prairie TO raise party who
were to cut through from that place by q
trail lately marked out and meet us cutting
towards them. This trail shortens the dis
tance about eight miles, it being about
twenty by water, and the river very shall
low. We were two days cutting through
this eight miles, but on the second day
meeting the party of three, who had cut
about three miles of the way towards us.
Next day we reached the Boisfort plain
carly in the morning, and were very hos
pitabIy entertained by the people there,
who opened their doors to us and supplied
US with abundance of food which we need
cd very much, having had but one meal
since the day we left the last prairie. The
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