TRIP THROUGH NACHES PASS, 1841 



jammed with their packs between trees, and were not 

 to be disengaged without great toil, trouble, and 

 damage to their burdens. In some cases, after succeed- 

 ing in getting nearly to the top of a hill thirty or forty 

 feet high, they would become exhausted and fall over 

 backwards, making two or three somersets, until they 

 reached the bottom, when their loads were again to be 

 arranged. 



On the 22d, their route lay along the banks of the 

 Upthascap, 1 which is a much wider stream than the 

 Puyallup. A short distance up, they came to a fish- 

 weir, constructed as the one heretofore described, on 

 the Chickeeles, 2 though much smaller. 



This part of the country abounds with arbor-vitae 

 trees, some of which were found to be thirty feet in 

 circumference at the height of four feet from the ground, 

 and upwards of one hundred feet high. Notwithstand- 

 ing the many difficulties encountered, they this day 

 made about twelve miles. 



On the morning of the 23d, just as they were about 

 to leave their camp, their men brought in a deer, which 

 was soon skinned and packed away on the horses. 

 This was the first large game they had obtained, 

 having previously got only a few grouse. 



They had now reached the Smalocho, 3 which runs 

 to the westward, and is sixty-five feet wide : its depth 

 was found to be four and a half feet, which, as it was 

 also rapid, was too great for the horses to ford and 

 carry their loads. The Indians now became serviceable 

 to them. Lieutenant Johnson had engaged several 

 that were met on their way, and they now amounted 

 to thirteen, who appeared for a time lively and con- 

 tented. This, however, was but a forerunner of dis- 

 content, and a refusal to go any farther ; but with 

 coaxing and threatening they were induced to proceed. 



The road or way, after passing the river, was over a 



1 Meaning up the Carbon River and its branch called South Prairie Creek. 



2 Chehalis River. 3 White River. 



c 17 



