MOUNT RAINIER 



The country around seemed one continued series of 

 hills, and like La Tete had suffered from the fire. 

 According to the natives, although the wood on the 

 mountains was destroyed many years since, yet it was 

 still observed to be on fire, in some places, about two 

 years ago. Most of the tops of the distant peaks had 

 snow on them. To the east was seen the appearance 

 of two valleys, through which the two branches of the 

 Smalocho l flow. 



On descending from La Tete, the river was to be 

 crossed : this was found too deep to be forded, and it 

 consequently became necessary to form a bridge to 

 transport the baggage, by cutting down trees. The 

 current was found to run 6-2 miles per hour. They had 

 been in hopes of reaching the Little Prairie before night, 

 but in consequence of this delay, were forced to encamp 

 before arriving there. 



The Indians complained much of the want of food : 

 many of the horses also were exhausted for the same 

 cause, and exhibited their scanty nourishment in their 

 emaciated appearance. 



On the 26th, they reached the Little Prairie at an 

 early hour, where, after consultation, it was determined 

 to wait a day to recruit the horses, as this was the only 

 place they could obtain food. It was also desirable to 

 ascertain the practicability of passing the mountain 

 with the horses, and at the same time to carry forward 

 some of the loads, that the horses might have as little 

 as possible to transport. Mr. Waldron and Pierre 

 Charles were therefore sent forward with the Indians, 

 having loads of fifty pounds each, to ascend the moun- 

 tain, while Lieutenant Johnson remained with the camp 

 to get observations. Dr. Pickering and Mr. Bracken- 

 ridge accompanied the party of Mr. Waldron to the 

 snow-line. The prairie on which they had encamped 

 was about two and a half acres in extent, and another 

 of the same size was found half a mile farther east. 



1 White and Greenwater rivers. 



20 



