Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-01-27

the east, the forests greater in extent %
variety, end the vegetation gensrslly more
luxurlcat. We fosnd also on our way
through the wesds that The far.reachiLg
bsanclas Of Tho inmssss trees we're asa.
nented With beautiful drapery Of ydlow
noss, which formed delicate and bsikAs
tinted hinge 70 ~ rough aud somber bsed
bark ;; end that she birds and squirrels
whick aboun1ed therein we're new ed
strange 70 Us. The latter were smsllss
but in form IKE the common gray squir-
rel dark dove color on the back, white
belly and black or very dark tail. They
we're exceedingly numerous, scampering
aud chastsrinG in every direction and
when properly cooked under the Colonsl's
immediate supervision We discovered they
made - s1eelleh and juicy stew. ]
We crossed Tie Big BlAckfoot river, and
followed Il down some distance, our rosd
beisg fos miles . marrow path gougsd oct
Of the steep mosntain side BY the tiny foot
Of Ne Big Hoss q sure footed goat, Offer.
ing precarious foot.hold st fearful dis
sance sbevs ths rapid stream which wound
along almost directly under ~.
The eighth day our road WAS better, con.
sinsing through wide valley; and st -
early hour We were rejoicsd with . view
Of the snow-cappsd mountains at the mis-
sion, and enlivened with the prospect Of
soon reaching our journeys end.
The two following days we're in . wild
noun.sin.gorGe, winding through dense
forests and thicksts Of pine, FIR and cedar
-up and down and along steep hills
through jagged and detached rocks, and
over fallen trees, the whole forming the
most vexatious and difficult part OF our
way. Still rugged as it VAS our road was
not without its beauties, and led Us on the
margin of several large and beautiful lakes
Of pure and ehrystsl water, studded with
fairy like islands--gems Of emerald float.
ing upon . sea Of pearl-snugIy nestled
in the quiet mountain nook, and deeply
embowered in the friendly shade Of gigsn.
tic pines. II earth, sky and water can be
beautiful, surely their beauties we're richly
clustered there smooth browed noun
tsins wrapped in half-sd justed nantes Of
inwoven foliage, and gathered rousd a
chrystal lake which nestles like On infant
in their giant laps, tanning its placid sur.
face into laughing diuples by the gentle
waving Of their fringing forests, with sky
above whose limpid azure sttsins TO vestsl
purity, would. | fancy, present scene, 10
the language Of Col. VAUGHAN, "pictur.
esquely grand and wildly beautiful"
On the eleventh morning we we're only
twelve miles from our journeys end-just
up and down mountain, by the short cut |;
but after due consideration the short cut
was repudis.ed, q it promised sleeper ups
and downs, thicker woods, more logs, aud
rougher stones than We met the day before.
The Major thought the animals would be
less fati gued to 20 around the mountain If
it vas not too far, and the Colonel was
satisfied that he individually would rather
60 around. if 1t was twenty miles there
fore round the mountain We went. and At
about one P. NJ. came in sight Of the mis-
sion. We were met by Fathers CosGIAro
and HGcKEs, and Welcomed with the kind
ly word and genial warmth If genuine
HOSPITALITY.
This is Catholic Mission called Saint
Ignatius. situated in ANAL valley At the
foot Of high mountain. few miles south
Of Clarke's Fork of Columbia river, in
Washington Territory, among the Flat
Head aud Pondoreills Indians. Much to
our establishment, We found here oil the
substantial conveniences and comforts Of
IN old settlement. Besides the church.
which is plain substantial log building
in the center Of an open square, are .
comfortable dwelling for the mission aries.
carpenter aud blacksmith shops, saw and
grist mills by water power, barn stable,
granary, root house, &C., all built Of logs,
and Immediately around these are quite q
number Of smaller log houses belonging
to Indians and Halt. breeds, the whole
forming . nice little village. The garden
and field we learned richly repaid the cul-
tivation by IN enormous yield, while the
fat cows, fine cattle and other stock on the
premises contributed 70 the old fashioned
farm-like appearance of tie whole.
We found the inmates of the mission
house sociaDle, kind hearted and hospits-
Bile. aud their unselfsh kindness will long
be remembered BY Us ~ the GROWING
pleasure Of our trip.
We enjoyed ourselves for three days
aud then with fifteen or sixteen horses
heavily loaded with potatoes, onions, aad
other winter vegetables, which we're kindly
furnished Us in greatest profusion and
abundance without money and without
price" we bade farewell to Father HGcKEN
and bis associates, and with much regre.
left the mission Of st. Ignatius.
After due consider alton we undertook .
new route home, which promised . good
road with the exception Of lone little
mountain that was . mere nothing" in
order 10 avoid the gorge we had found 70
difficult, and to see new sights.
Accordingly our second camp returning
was a, Heli.Gate, deep and narrow de
file or canon, between high mounta rs,
through which the Hell. Gate river flows
1t is situated Ut the IN attn Of Bitter. root
valley, near the junction Ut the two rivers,
and Is . noted locality, having been the
scene of several severe battles between the
Flathead and Blsc kfeet Indians, and be
ing, | believe, II commanding point on
Gov. STEVENS survey for the N. p. Rail.
road, as w.ll ~ Oh Lieut.. MrLLEN's route
.or the projected wagon road from Saint
Paul TO the Pacifir. 10 Us II will ever be
a notable place. ~ shortly after we camp.
ed here, from certain unmistakeable and
disagreeable "sign" We thought On i'm.
portant discovery might be made, and
pulling off our garments. . slight exami
nation revealed certain fat and fine locking
specimens Of the genus "creeper with
our clothes on. The Colonel declared
that it needed only this to place his repu.
'a'ion Is bold and hardy moun,aineer
beyond dispute--at the same time too fire.
quent repetition Of the " facts WAS not
desirable. We found the road level aud
pleasant rs We could wish, tlattering our
selves we would have little climbing to do