1826, JUNE. WALLAWALLAH 189 



had collected, cut a bundle of dry plants almost right through, carried off 

 my razor and soap-brush. One, as he was in the act of depriving me of 

 my inkstand, which I had just been using before I lay down and was lying 

 close to my pillow, I lifted my gun (which is my night companion as well as 

 day, and lies generally alongside of me, the muzzle to my feet) and gave 

 him the contents. I found it a very strange species, body 10 inches long, 

 tail 7 ; hairy belly nearly white, back light brown, point of the hairs 

 darker ; ears very large, J of an inch long ; whiskers jet black, 3 inches ; 

 long nose, pointed. In the hurry to recover my inkstand and the great 

 desire that I had of securing him, I did not take time to change the shot 

 for a smaller sort. Rose early, soon after daylight, and watched ; I had not 

 sat up above half an hour when a second came. I handed it a lighter shot 

 and did not destroy the skin. In every respect like the male, only about 

 an inch shorter, the head smaller, body as thick ; was not with young. I 

 am informed they are found in great abundance in the Rocky Mountains, 

 particularly to the north of the Peace and McKenzie Rivers, where in the 

 winter they do much injury to everything that comes in the way. 



(147) Syngenesia sp. ; perennial ; leaves opposite, ovate, three-nerved, 

 smooth above, slightly pubescent under ; flowers sessile, yellow, sweet- 

 scented ; calyx five-leaved ; a singular plant, 8 inches to 18 inches ; 

 abundant on the plains, in light dry sandy soils. 



(148) Diadelphia, perennial ; stem smooth ; leaves pinnate, nine to 

 fifteen, smooth, ovate-lanceolate ; flowers white ; peduncle pubescent ; 

 root creeping ; a foot to 1 high ; on gravelly banks ; not plentiful. 



Saturday, 17th. My guide did not arrive from the camp until 8 A.M., 

 and as I was uncertain if he would come that day, the horses were not 

 brought in from the meadow, nor my provisions put up. Considerable 

 time was taken up explaining to him the nature of my journey, which was 

 done in the following way : I told Mr. Black in English my intended route, 

 who translated it to his Canadian interpreter, and this person communi- 

 cated it to the Indian in the Kyuuse language, to which tribe he belongs. 

 As a proof of the fickle disposition and keenness of bargain making in these 

 people, he made without delay strict inquiry what he should get for his 

 trouble. This being soon settled, then came the smaller list of present 

 wants, beginning, as his family had been starving for the last two months, 

 and he going just at the commencement of the salmon season, by asking 

 Mr. Black to allow them something to eat should they call, which was 

 promised. Afterwards a pair of shoes, and, as his leggings were much worn, 

 leather to make new ones was necessary ; a scalping knife, a small piece of 

 tobacco, and a strip of red coarse cloth to make an ornamental cap. This 

 occupied two hours and was sealed by volumes of smoke from a large stone 

 pipe. Mr. B. kindly offered to send a boy twelve years of age, the son of 

 the interpreter, who speaks the language fluently, with me, which I gladly 

 accepted. As he spoke a little French, I would be the better able to make 

 known my wants to my guide. I had provided for me three excellent 

 horses for carrying my paper, blanket, and provisions, which was equally 

 divided, and as I choose to walk except on bad places of the road or crossing 

 the creeks, I placed a little more on my horse. Mr. B. had put up for me 



