380 ITINERARY OF THE ROUTE FROM FORT VANCOUVER TO FORT DALLES. 



August 13. To second camp on Tahk prairie; trail skirls the eastern edge of 

 the prairie, which is perfectly level, covered with good grass, and has good soil; 

 the timber skirting it is of yellow pine, free from underbrush; lake near north end 

 of prairie ; camped on a stream rising from this lake ......................... 5 J 



August. 14. Through open woods to crossing of last creek .................. f 



Over a rolling country, covered with open pine woods, to the Wa-wak-che river, 

 which runs in a very deep and narrow valley ; descent precipitous; no grass in the 

 valley ; lava is occasionally met with in the distance ......................... 4 



Make a long and gradual ascent from the valley; pass over a broken country, 

 which is covered with open woods of yellow pine and oak, to a point where there 

 are water and grass, a short distance to left of trail ........................... 4f 



To camp in a narrow valley, with a small creek and good grass .............. 3 



- 12| 



August 15. Over a country like that of yesterday s march, to two springs with 

 good grass ............................................................ l 



To a small spring branch, with good grass ................................ 5J 



To camp, in the woods, with a small rivulet and tolerable grass ............. 2 



9J 



August 16. To camp Simkwe ; through country like that of yesterday, only 

 more broken ........................................................... 5 



Over high rolling ridges, bare of timber, except here and there a scrub-oak; the 

 ground covered with lava, in fragments, to the Sahpenis ; the valley of this stream 

 is deep and narrow where we reached it ; descent gradual .................... 3 



Over a slightly undulating and open plain to the Simkwe creek .............. 1 



Followed the course of the creek and camped upon it, with good grass ........ 5 



_ 14 



August 1 7. To camp Atahnam, over the level bottom of Simkwe valley ...... 4 



Cross a high, bare, stony ridge, and camp on the Atahnam, with good water and 

 indifferent grass ; no water on the trail between the camps .................... 2f 



August 20. To camp Wenass; over a high rolling country, bare of trees, and 

 covered with thin bunch-grass, to Kwai-wy-chess creek ...................... 8 



Over similar country, more rocky in places, to Nahchess river ; descent into its 

 valley steep ........................................................... 3f 



Cross the wide and level valley of the Nahchess, pass the rolling dividing ridge, 

 and camp on the Wenass, with good grass and water wood not plenty. . ....... 4J 



16 



Good grazing in the valley for a large number of animals. 



August 23. To camp near Nahchess river; followed valley of Wenass ; grass 

 good ; yellow pine begins ................................................ 8 



Leave valley of Wenass, and ascend dividing ridge ; ascent steep at two points; 

 divide alternately covered with open pine woods and bare lava ................ 6 



Descend from summit through open woods; trail quite steep in places. En 

 camped in a small ravine, with good water and grass ......................... 3 



- 17 



August 24. Descended into valley of Nahchess. Trail steep in places ........ f 



Followed valley of Nahchess; trail crosses the river eight times; sometimes 

 passes in the water for short distances ; crossings bad. Where the stream flows 

 through the narrowest canons, the trail crosses -the mountain spurs, and is very 



