The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-07-05
Touring in Klickitat and Yakima.

period of the year, when we generally
expect hot weather and dust in the
valleys, it is an agreeable and health
full change to don the garb of the touris,
and go into "the country of magnificent
distances" east of the Cascade Noun
tains. Here is the steppe of Washing
ton Territory, with it's nutritious herb
age and pure air, and here are the sleek
cattle and white sheep, Angora goats
and prairie chickens, and the pert robin
who twirls his notes from the pine
branches. Here, also, comes the
chinook wind like special messenger
from the regions of upper air, diffusine
Its balmy presence over the plains, the
same great equalizer of heat and cold
for summer and winter. Sometimes in
summer it blows hard and cold, but is
often zephyred and comes soughing
through the pine leaves with a weird
song, relieved only by the rustling
leaves of the aspen and the lowing of
herds on the adjacent hillsides. Rain
does not often fall in summer. Fleecy
clouds sometimes hover around the
horizon in the morning, but usually re-
main high in the sky, as in coquettish
mood they meet and part again to dis
play their fantastic forms and hide the
glory of the sun. Some days they
gather their folds of darkness in threat
ening mood, and heralded by thunder
and lightning distill the dews of heav-
en- in cooling showers; but it is quickly
over, and when the sun beams upon
the lain drops, dame Nature seems to
smile at her little act of kindness to-
ward her realm of earth below. In the
hills and glades are vaults and reser-
voirs wherein are stored, for future use,
the pure water, of which the rain and
SHOWS of winter afford an abundance.
These stores are always unlocked and
come bubbling from the springs, pure
fountains of refreshing drink for man
and beast. In these regions is found
the literal fat of the land. 1t goes on
hoofs and transports itself to the steam
boat landings without the use of wagons
and mule teams. Cattle range every
where over the rolling hills. The mark
and the brand are the only evidences of
ownership. A calf is branded and
turned on the range and he may not
again be seen by the owner until driven
with the herd to market three or four
years afterward. While the herdsman
sleeps hundreds and thousands of busy
teeth are coming money from the bunch
grass. But he has his anxieties and
cares the same as other people. He
must have good judgment and know
how to manage, or else in this coun-
try, which is now overstocked, he will
be unable to compete with those who,
in addition to numbering their cattle
and sheep by the thousand, have the
knowledge and experience requisite
TO success.
The knight of the whip and the
spur is an independent individual.
To use one of his favorite expressions
we may say, she is fine animal"
The saddle is his place by day, and
the ground is often his bed at night;
the bunch grass is forage for his horse,
bread and beef give him solid mus
cles to swing the lasso, and his cour-
age and prowess are match for the
widest steer or the most furious
horse. His face is brown and often
blistered by exposure to the wind
and sun, his eye, kindled to bright
ness by the many excitements of his
work, is keen and piercing, denoting
. quickness of perception possessed
only by those who lead an active life
The average specimen of the clan