TRIP THROUGH NACHES PASS, 1841 



the cause of their return. After a diligent search, the 

 horses were found in, places where they had sought 

 better food, although it was scanty enough even there. 



During the day, the route led along the Smalocho, 1 

 which runs nearly east and west ; and they only left 

 its banks when they were obliged to do so by various 

 impassable barriers. This part of the country is com- 

 posed of conical hills, which are all thickly clothed with 

 pine trees of gigantic dimensions. They made nine 

 miles this day, without accident ; but when they 

 encamped, they had no food for the horses except fern. 

 The animals, in consequence, seemed much overcome, 

 as did also the Indians, who had travelled the whole 

 day with heavy loads. Lieutenant Johnson, by way of 

 diverting the fatigue of the latter, got up a shooting- 

 match for a knife, the excitement of which had the 

 desired effect. 



The trees hereabout were chiefly the cotton-wood, 

 maple, spruce, pine, and elder, and some undergrowth 

 of raspberry, the young shoots of which the natives eat 

 with great relish. 



On the 25th, they set out at an early hour, and found 

 the travelling less rough, so that they reached the foot 

 of La Tete 2 before noon, having accomplished eleven 

 miles. Lieutenant Johnson with the sergeant ascended 

 La Tete, obtained the bearings, from its summit, of all 

 the objects around, and made its height by barometer, 

 two thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight feet : 

 its latitude was fixed at 47 08' 54" N. This mountain 

 was entirely destitute of wood ; but, having been burnt 

 over, was found strewn with huge charred trunks, and 

 the whole ground covered with ashes. The inclination 

 of its sides was about fifty degrees. 



1 White River. 



2 Lieutenant Richard Arnold, in Pacific Railway Reports, Volume XII, Part I, 

 page 191, says: "Near the junction of Whitewater and Green rivers there is a re- 

 markable peak called La Tete, from a large rock on its slope resembling the head and 

 neck of a man. This is an important point, as it forms the gate of the mountains 

 on the west." Modern maps shift the "water" part of the names. They are 

 now White and Greenwater rivers. 



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