CHAPTER IV. 



NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY CONTINUED— ROUTES OE DETACHED 

 PARTIES IN CHARGE OE LIEUT. WILLIAMSON. 



Exploration near lower klamath lake. — Party. — -White stone. — Lower elamath lake. — Klamath riter. — Letters. — Canon. — 

 Passage of riter through lake. — Upper klamath lake. — Raft. — Junction with main party. — First exploration among 

 the cascade mountains. — party. — flne meadow. — snow peaks. — lakes. — vlew from mountain. — indian trail. — cascade. — 

 Extinct crater. — Summit of divide. — Three men sent back. — Indians. — Forks of trail. — Why-chus creek. — Junction with 

 main party.— Second exploration among the cascade mountains. — Party. — Extended view. — Snow. — Lakes. — Trail disap- 

 pears. — Canon. — Compelled to turn back. — Depot camp aoain. — Second start. — Difficult route.— Extended view. — Trail 

 disappears. — Route impassable. — Compelled to turn back. — Rain. — Indians. — Barometer broken. — Return to depot camp. — 

 New route. — Elk killed. — Astronomical observations. — Route from camp S on why-chus creek to Vancouver. — Final 

 division of party.- — Start. — Wagon road. — Main divide. — Lakes. — Middle fork of Willamette river. — Route in ravine. — 

 First settlement. — Spore's ferry.- — Broken down horses left behind. — Fences. — South fork of santiam river. — North 

 fobk. — Oregon city.- — Fort Vancouver. — Subsequent movements of Lieut. Williamson. 



These itineraries have been compiled entirely from Lieut. Williamson's field notes, as I did 

 not accompany him on the expeditions. As his journal was written hastily and without any 

 view to publication, considerable revision has been necessary — so much, indeed, as to preclude 

 the use of quotation marks. I have, however, been careful to adhere to his own words as far 

 as possible. 



EXPLORATION NEAR LOWER KLAMATH LAKE. 



August 13. — I started this morning with Lieut. Sheridan and the dragoons to follow round 

 the western side of Lower Klamath late, having directed Lieut. Abbot to pass with the main 

 party up the eastern side, and rejoin me near Upper Klamath lake. I crossed Lost river at the 

 Natural Bridge, and then proceeded on the Treka trail to where the Oregon trail diverged from 

 it. We travelled to-day about twenty miles and encamped on a stream, ten feet wide, which 

 flowed from springs at the foot of a neighboring hill. 



August 14. — About a mile from camp I saw a white spot on the road, and found that the 

 ground became white as I approached it. On the spot itself were fragments of a white, soft 

 stone, apparently clay. A piece was preserved for examination. About four miles from camp 

 we crossed a fine spring branch, rising at the foot of hills within one hundred yards of the trail, 

 and apparently joining the one on which we had encamped, near Lower Klamath lake. Three 

 miles further on we crossed another spring branch emptying into the lake. About two or three 

 miles further on we skirted the western side of the lake. The body of water was small, but a 

 large marsh extended for about ten miles towards the north. We soon entered pine timber, and 

 after crossing a pretty high divide reached Klamath river, a short distance from the lake. The 

 sick men were better. I prepared letters for the War Department, to send by them to Fort 

 Lane. 



August 15.— Within half a mile of camp, the river came through hills forming a canon. We 

 were obliged to ascend the ridge, and follow it for about six miles. We then descended, forded 

 the river, and soon reached the edge of the marsh. Our course thus far to-day had been nearly 

 parallel to that of yesterday. After taking several compass bearings, we followed a northerly 



