TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT ON WESTERN DIVISION. 205 



peak is seen towards the northeast and at the end of the plain in that direction. Between Chalacha 

 and the Cathlapoot l is a high spur of the Cascade mountains, which runs along the left bank of that 

 river. The ascent to it is gradual, and by successive hills and long slopes, but the descent is rocky 

 and abrupt, and dangerous for loaded animals. The Cathlapoot l is a very bold, rapid river, run 

 ning about twenty-five yards in its bed, but, judging from the sand and shingle on its banks, it 

 evidently becomes over two hundred yards wide at the ford. This, however, is not the general 

 character of its banks, as they usually are high and well defined, preventing an overflow at any 

 season. It is about three feet deep at the ford, and the bottom is filled with large water- worn 

 shingle, and makes the fording difficult in so rapid a stream. Just opposite the ford the Spilyeh 

 debouches into it from the north. Between Simsik and the Cathlapoot l, with the exception of the 

 small plains, the country is well timbered with fir, hemlock, &c., and the underbrush is very 

 dense in places. Some alder and maple grow along the Yahkohtl river. The soil is generally 

 very good, and that between Yahkohtl river and plain will compare favorably with any in the 

 Territory; there is but little of it, however. The Cathlapoot l, at the ford, runs nearly west and 

 east. There are two mountain chains running along its banks, one on either side; the one on the 

 right or northern bank is composed of rugged, broken hills, is lower than the chain on the south 

 bank, is less continuous, and lies farther back from the river. Bluffs and spurs from it, however, 

 run up to the river. To avoid these, the trail runs back from the river in a northerly direction 

 across the range four and a half miles to Spilyeh plain. The Spilyeh river is crossed about a mile 

 from the Cathlapoot l at its forks, the trail running up the hills on the tongue between them. 

 One branch bears to the northeast, the other to the west of north. Spilyeh plain is long and 

 narrow. A high range of mountains border it on the north a short distance back, and on the 

 south is seen the rugged river chain of hills that we have crossed. As this is the last of the 

 plains which we meet on the western side of the mountains, it will be well to remark, in this 

 place, that, from the facts noted on Lieutenant Hodges trip across the mountains to Sleilacoom, 

 from what we saw on the route, and subsequently noticed between Vancouver and Orympia, 

 the entire country west of the mountains is broken up by these small plains occurring at regular 

 intervals here and there throughout its whole extent. They are generally slightly rolling and dry, 

 and covered with fine bunch-grass. Their soil for the most part is too sandy and gravelly to 

 be good, particularly in those which lie nearest the sound. Some of them, however, as Mankas 

 and Chalacha, are lower and swampy, and the soil of such is better suited for agriculture. 

 From Spilyeh the trail bears to the east, over a pretty level country, occasionally passing 

 over spurs which come down from the chain on the left for four and a half miles, where it 

 again strikes the river ; thence follows the river for two and a half miles, and crosses to the left 

 bank to a place called by the Indians Lakas. The northeastern branch of the Spilyeh is again 

 crossed before reaching the Cathlapoot l. There is a high range on the left of the trail on the 

 right bank of the river, and the chain crossed between the Cathlapoot l and Spilyeh plains ceases 

 before the trail again reaches the river. The country between Spilyeh and Lakas is heavily 

 timbered with spruce, hemlock, and fine large cedars. From Lakas the trail follows the banks 

 of the Cathlapoot l, crossing from side to side to avoid the bluffs running up to the river from both 

 ranges for seventeen miles, to Wininepat. At this point the river bends from its general east 

 and west course more to the north, and judging from the openings or gorges in the mountain 

 ranges, (which here become high and heavy,) it soon forks, one branch running to the northeast 

 and the other bending back to the northwest, and running up towards St. Helens. Two and a 

 halt miles from Lakas there is a fine mountain brook coming in from the north on the right bank of 

 the river. This stream is very rapid, twenty feet wide and eighteen inches deep; bottom stony. 

 Seven and a half miles beyond, the Noomptnamie river comes in on the same bank, from the 

 north, almost at right-angles with the Cathlapoot l. There is a large field of lava between the 

 mountain brook just mentioned and the Noomptnamie river. It is limited on the north by a, high 

 rough range of mountains between the trail and Mount St. Helens, running parallel to the 



