BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 483 
the kindness of the superior of the Catholic missions, I was 
permitted to proceed with their caravan to the Flathead 
mission, after parting from Sir W. Stewart at the Wind 
River Mountains. I enjoyed their hospitality, and finally 
accompanied a mission party to the Coeur d'Aleine Indians, 
an entirely new field for my researches on the upper waters 
of the Spokan and Kallispell Rivers. 
For the opportunity of exploring the fertile part of the 
Spokan country, (which was only visited by the Botanist 
Douglas about as far as 80 miles west of Fort Colville), I am 
especially indebted to the Reverend gentlemen, Messrs. Eells 
and Walker, of the American Board of Foreign Missions, 
at Tshimakain. 
I arrived in the midst of winter 1843, almost exhausted 
by want of food, having been lost, and wandering alone in 
the mountains and woods for thirteen days, where the snow 
was two and three feet deep. Never shall I forget the kindness 
and unremitting attention bestowed upon me in that forlorn 
situation; the more felt after my exposure to the incle- 
mency of the weather for eight successive months. To a 
brother Missionary, of the same body, I owe the means of 
visiting another new field, the Highlands of the Nez-Percez 
Indians, where he accompanied me on my excursions, and 
also afforded facilities to investigate the flowery Koos Koos- 
kee valley over again, where previous botanists had but 
cursorily passed. 
It must, no doubt, be gratifying to the lovers of natural 
history that such assistance is rendered to scientific travellers ; 
not only since it would be impracticable, even with all the 
means, to traverse the different Indian.tribes unmolested, or 
without considerable difficulties, but it also shows that the 
necessity for extending our knowledge of the productions of 
nature is felt and cheerfully aided, even in the recesses of 
that vast western wilderness. May future explorers, for - 
whom there is yet enough in store, meet with the mms 
reception under those hospitable roofs ! ! 
