NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY — NEE-NEK SPRINGS AGAIN. 95 



100 feet deep, and separated 800 feet from the other. From these precipices, piles of detritus 

 sloped down at an angle of 45° to the little silver thread of water winding between them. The 

 huge rocks in the bottom compelled us to climb about half way up this slope to effect a passage. 

 The line of columns on the top of the northern side was strangely bent and distorted, as if, 

 while they were in a semi-fluid state, a huge crag had fallen among them ; those on the southern 

 bank were very straight and vertical. 



We travelled to-day to Chit-tike creek, and encamped there. Dr. Newberry and I followed 

 its bed, on foot, about two and a half miles, to the Des Chutes river. We found it a deep, 

 swift stream, 80 yards wide, and still sunk in the enormous caiion, which, I have no doubt, 

 extends about 140 miles above its mouth. The Chit-tike caiion is much wider than that of 

 Psuc-see-que, and there is a good trail leading to the river in its bottom. It was dark before 

 we rejoined the party ; and the camp fires, shining among the bushes, formed a striking con- 

 trast to the gloom of the canon as we approached. 



October 1. — On reaching Wam-Chuck river this morning, we found a large number of Indians 

 encamped there, who were very desirous to trade potatoes for matches and ammunition. 

 Sending the party forward to join Mr. Coleman at Nee-nee, Dr. Newberry and I stopped to 

 examine more fully this most interesting locality. Had we known that these savages were on 

 the point of joining in a general war against the whites, we might have felt less curiosity. As 

 it was, we visited the warm spring, which I had seen on September 21 ; examined the lateral 

 gate caiion ; collected several interesting geological specimens ; and then climbing to the 

 summit of the mountains, round the eastern side of which the trail winds, obtained a very 

 extensive view of this strange, picturesque valley. The great number of compass bearings that 

 I took from this and many other commanding points, cover the whole region with a net work 

 of triangles, which, I think, cannot fail to render the accompanying map of this section quite 

 accurate. 



We reached Nee-nee springs a little while before sunset, and found Mr. Coleman and his 

 party awaiting us. He had met with no difficulty, except in transporting the battered pair of 

 wheels to which our odometer was attached, and which, out of compliment to its former estate 

 still retained the name of the "little cart." Much credit is certainly due to him, considering 

 the small number of his party, for getting even this up and down some of the precipitous caiion 

 sides on the route. He reported that the jaded animals had been greatly benefited by the rich 

 bunch grass, which abounded in this vicinity. 



October 2. — To-day we remained in camp. I succeeded in repairing the cistern of the baro- 

 meter by covering the crack with Husband's adhesive plaster, and then applying a coat of 

 pealing wax dissolved in alcohol, to protect it from moisture. I re-filled the instrument, and 

 had no further trouble with it on the survey. I also obtained good observations of the sun to- 

 day. In the afternoon Dr. Newberry, who had been suffering for some time from fever and a<*ue, 

 was taken dangerously ill. We were all quite anxious on his account, as a bottle of arsenic 

 had been broken in the medicine chest, and none of us, excepting himself, had any knowledge 

 of the healing art. 



October 3. — This morning Dr. Newberry was much better, and able to ride, with two men and 

 myself, to Tysch creek. Lieutenant Williamson had authorized him to proceed to Vancouver 

 by water, to examine certain coal mines in Washington Territory. I proposed to return on the 

 following day to my party, after obtaining, if possible, a guide acquainted with the new pass 

 near Mount Hood, of which the half-breed had spoken. On reaching Mr. Evelyn's house, we 



