104 CROSSING THE SNAKE RIVER. 
scattered about, their height above the river, 
together with many minor matters, induces 
me to think the place could never have been used 
as a burial-ground. I merely state the fact, in- 
cidentally of considerable interest to me, as bearing 
on the past history of the North-western tribes. 
We left Walla-walla on June 28, en route north- 
ward, to reach Fort Colville. I resume my 
journal :— 
July 2.—We are on the bank of the Snake 
river, one of the larger tributaries to the Co- 
lumbia; the river is 400. yards in width, and 
running like a mill-race. There had once been 
a ferry, in the shape of a large scow, that was 
worked from side to side by a ttuck-wheel 
traversing on an iron wire rope, strained across 
the river ; but, unluckily, the rope was broken, so 
we had to cross by sailing and paddling the scow, 
and a few canoes hired from the Indians. It was 
a most wearisome job, as the scow had to be 
towed on both sides of the river, far above the 
landing she had to reach, in order to compensate 
for the swift current. Crossing occupied the 
entire day, but success finally crowned our 
exertions. 
A short distance above where we are crossing 
I can see the mouth of the Pelouse river, a good- 
