1827, MARCH. COLUMBIA RIVER 243 



Saturday, 2Uh. Started at five and crossed the Falls portage at nine, 

 where we breakfasted. In the interval the boat was gummed and other- 

 wise repaired, being slightly injured. One of the boats being returned to 

 Fort Vancouver, and disappointed in not finding horses, a party intending 

 to go by land, Mr. McLoughlin and Mr. McLeod started on foot and were 

 shortly followed by Mr. Pambrun and myself. Early in the day the boats 

 being favoured with a following breeze enabled them to use a sail, which 

 gave great assistance, the stream being rapid and very strong. Embarked 

 at one o'clock, as the road was bad and unable to keep pace with the boat. 

 Came up with those who started in the morning, but did not embark, 

 horses being promised by Indians residing twelve miles above the Falls. 

 Camped on the north side of the river, seven miles above Day's River, at 

 dusk. Were joined by our friends, who walked all day. The servant, 

 Overy, who had waited behind for the purpose of bringing up the horses, 

 came to us two hours after dark, having in his hand eight or ten broken 

 arrows which he wrested from an Indian who threatened to put one 

 through him if he did not allow himself to be pillaged. He might have 

 laid him dead on the spot, but prudently chose to allow him to walk away, 

 being rewarded previously with a heavy flogging and deprived of his bow 

 and arrows. Five horses at the camp and the owner agreed to go to 

 Wallawallah. Very high wind from the south-west during the night. 



Sunday, 25th. The Indian who was engaged last night chose this 

 morning to change his mind. He got a comfortable supper and a whiff 

 of the pipe, which perhaps was all he wanted. Three -of us went off on foot 

 and three in the boat until nine o'clock, when I took my turn until dark. 

 High wind in the morning, calm at noon. Saw many butterflies and 

 swallows. Camped on the north bank, nine miles below the big island. 



Monday, 26th. At daylight went off on foot over a point of land and 

 met the boat at the lower end of the big island at nine o'clock, when we 

 took breakfast ; and having to cross over to the south channel, the north 

 being too shallow, I embarked for the remainder of the day. Put ashore 

 at two at the upper end of the island, where we discovered that Mr. 

 McLoughlin's gun had been left at our breakfast-place, and being loth 

 to lose it, having some celebrity attached to it (Sir Alexander McKenzie 

 used it on both his former journeys), Overy, another Canadian, and an 

 Indian were despatched for it ; in the meantime we halted for them. 

 Saw nothing new. Observed that the two species of Cactus found abun- 

 dantly over the plains are used as food by baking them in the same manner 

 as Phalangium. 1 Purchased some horseflesh of the Indian, on which we 

 supped. Very high wind during the whole night. Took my turn of 

 watching and cooking by the kettle with Mr. McLeod. 



Tuesday, 27th. At daylight Dupond the Canadian returned, and told 

 us that Indians had been at our breakfast-place and carried off the gun, and 

 Overy had gone in quest of them and informed us he would soon follow. 

 With difficulty four horses were hired of a Kyuuse Indian, when about 

 eleven o'clock three started overland, leaving a horse for Overy to follow. 

 I walked along the banks of the river in quest of plants, but found nothing 

 1 Camassia esculenta, Baker, in Journ. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 257. 



