284 FROM MOUTH OP CLARIS FORK TO WALLAH- WALL AH. 



I then continued along the hank until within two miles of its mouth, where I found a few Indians, 

 and encamped. Estimated du-tance travelled thirty miles. The late hour of camping delayed 

 me until noon on the 16th, sending the observers to continue the survey, which was stopped about 

 four miles from camp. I rode to the mouth of the river ; at this point it was two hundred feet 

 wide and very rocky : the high bank to the north has a gradual fall towards the river, while to the 

 south it recedes, leaving a rocky flat, which is overflowed at the highest stage of the water. 

 This stream flows far below the banks; has a rapid current and rocky bed: the banks were 

 covered with fine timber, and the soil appeared excellent. After the Indians had crossed my 

 party, I gave them about two feet of tobacco each, and they appeared well satisfied. They 

 belonged to the Spokanes, and fully supported the good opinion I had previously formed of the 

 tribe. The rest of the tribe were encamped farther up the river. From this point the trail passed 

 along the bank, which was very steep, tor a distance of four or five miles. At this height I saw 

 the gorge through which the Columbia runs, and was able to connect the work of the previous 

 day. The western bank still presents a barren appearance, and the range rises to the height of 

 1,000 feet. The trail then passed down the bank and continued along the river. I encamped 

 near the Great Bend. The height to the south of Spokane is on a level with the Grand Plain, 

 and although very undulating, may be regarded the same. From this camp I had a fine view of 

 the terraces seen along the Columbia ; they form the northern boundary of the Grand Plain. The 

 night was pleasant, but a heavy mist along the banks prevented my taking any observations. The 

 principal rocks seen since leaving Spokane are basalt, trap, and granite. Neatly opposite this 

 camp the mountain range recedes, leaving a narrow strip about sixty feet above the river and ten 

 miles in length. 



Soon after leaving camp the Hudson s Bay trail passes to the south, and after a steep ascent it 

 arrives on the Grand Plain ; continuing over this, it enters the second coulee in size, (as seen 

 along my route.) This is by far the best route. I followed an Indian trail along the banks in 

 order to continue the rough survey of the river, and be able to enter the Grand Coulee from the 

 river. This route enabled me to have the same view of the country. Until noon of the 19th 

 the trail was along the northern slope of the plain, and very rocky and dangerous. The river 

 to the north was impassable. I then arrived on the northern boundary of the Grand Plain; the 

 view from this point was extensive ; to the south and east could be seen a vast plain covered 

 with a luxuriant growth of grass, but destitute of timber and underbrush of every description, 

 except a cluster of trees near where the trail, previously spoken of, strikes this level ; to the 

 west, on the opposite side of the river, the general level is a prolongation of this plain, and 

 covered with mountains, which rise as they recede from the view ; to the north you have a fine 

 view of the Columbia, and its steep rocky banks, around which I passed on my way to Spokane 

 river. Continuing over this level half an hour, I again descended to the river by a steep and 

 rocky trail, and marched three miles, encamping near the mouth of the coulee, about three miles 

 from the camp of the 17th. I obtained a meridian altitude of the sun, which placed us in latitude 

 47 58 51&quot;. To give a description of the banks, as seen from this camp, would be nothing more 

 than a repetition of what I have stated before. When within two miles of the mouth of the 

 Grand Coulee, the trail again divided. One passed over a rocky bluff about two hundred feet 

 high ; the other continued along the river to the mouth of the coulee. To save time and distance, 

 I conducted the train by the former, sending the observers to take particular observations after 

 leaving the river. Timber, which was seen in great abundance to the Grand Plain, has grad 

 ually disappeared, and but few trees are seen along the river. The trail leaves the river to the 

 north, and passes nearly south. After an ascent of two hundred and forty-three feet, we arrived 

 upon a level which commands a fine view of the coulee ; it was about ten miles wide at the 

 northern entrance, and gradually widened until it passed out of sight; its walls were about eight 

 hundred feet high, and one solid mass of rock, basalt cemented together by lava, or some more 

 fusible rock. The trail had a gradual fall for about six miles, which gives a fair index of the 



