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



Cross obliquely the vnllev of the Wallah-Wallah, crossing three small creeks; 

 camp near Whitman s Old Mission; grass good ............................. 



Norember 7. Follow valley of&quot; Wallah- Wall ih on right bank, crossing the branch 

 on which we encamped a few hundred yards after starting. Trail good, and gene 

 rally level to crossing of Too-she .......................................... 9f 



Trail now passes over sand-hills; often leaves the valley for a time, and is gene 

 rally heavy; little or no grass in the valley; cross the Wallah-Wallah twice; 

 camped two miles from Fort Wallah- Wallah; grass very poor; wood scarce. ... 8f 



8. Followed valley of Wallah-Wallah to the fort; trail in deep sand; 

 no grass or timber; cross the stream twice .................................. 2 



On leaving the fort crossed the Wallah-Wallah; passed over a high and rocky 

 spur; followed a canon, and by a steep, rocky asc&amp;lt; nt, gained the valley of the 

 Columbia. Followed a level sandy terrace, with but a few occasional bushes. 

 Camped on the river bank, with but little wood and grass; plenty of sage ....... 10 



- 12 

 No cmb&amp;gt;r 9. Followed the sandy river-bottom. Trail sometimes passes over 



at the base of rock\ spurs, which run out to the river ........................ 6 



Leave the river-botiom and ascend a high, sandy and barren plateau. Travel 



over this behind 1 he ridge bordering the river ............................... 8 



Descend into the river-bottom, which is here very sand} , and destitute of grass. 



Cross the Umatilla at its mouth; crossing good .............................. 1 J 



Coniin.ie on the river-bottom and camp. The animal- here managed to pick up 



a few blades of grass. i\o timber; a single piece of drift-wood had to serve for fuel 



for the whole party ................................................. , ___ 



- 16 

 November 10. Trail follows the river-bottom, and generally keeping close to the 



bank; on one occasion, leaving it for about six miles to cut off abend. There is no 

 grass in this day s march. The whole country is a desert of loose sand, with a 

 few sage bushes. A high wind, blowing in our faces, caused great suffering to the 

 command from the clouds of sand. Camped near river bank, in a cluster of low 

 bushes. Little or no fuel of any kind. Sage and cuckle burrs were the principal 

 food of the animals ......................................................... 14 



November 11. Country like that of yesterday, and sand equally disagreeable. 

 Crossed Willow creek (Hokespan) ........................................ 11 



Ascended from its valley by a steep slope; passed over a high plateau, and soon 

 descended again into the river-bottom, which was like that of yesterday. Camp 

 in the sand-hills; a little very poor grass on a low flat; a few small whortleberries. 



November 12. Travelled among sand-hills ................................ 



Passed along the base of high basaltic cliffs ; trail sometimes rocky, at others 

 sandy ; then ascended a high, narrow plateau, on which is bunch-grass. Descended 

 into a small ravine, and camped on the river bank. Grass on the hills. A little 

 drift-wood supplied us with fuel .......................................... 3f 



November 13. Crossed a steep, rocky point, and then followed among the sand 



hills, occasionally passing over or at the base of basaltic spurs and cliffs ......... 8 



Pass a very bad, roeky spur, and then over the stony beach . . .............. 1 



Among sand-hills again. ___ . . ...... , ................................... 1 



