84 A TEDIOUS VOYAGE. 
struggling through rapids, and watching the 
‘deck hands’ take in wood at the different 
‘wooding stations.’ The boilers are heated with 
wood only, which is hauled by ox-teams from 
the nearest forest or timbered district, often 
many miles: cutting, cording, and hauling the 
wood requisite for the trip from the Des Chutes 
to Walla-walla is a very heavy item. 
We pass the mouth of John Day’s river, the 
Umatilla, and several other tributaries. Where 
the rivers joined, small encampments of Indians 
were busy fishing, but we did not go sufficiently 
near to see what fish they were taking. As we 
get farther up-stream, colossal piles of basaltic 
rocks, naked and cinderous, appear to have grown 
from out the sand; quaint are the shapes these 
masses assume, and from resemblances really 
startling are named Chimney-rocks, Castle-rocks, 
Turret-rocks, and so on, as they suggest some well- 
known object to the traveller. The weariest day 
must have an ending; at night we tie up as 
before, only twelve miles below old Fort Walla- 
walla—our destination. 
June 7.—We are at old Walla-walla, 5.30 
A.M.; wind blowing a hurricane, and carrying 
along with it sand, and even small pebbles. The 
landing is effected on a kind of floating pier; and 
