TRIP THROUGH NACHES PASS, 1841 



tion ; the herbage was quite dried up, and from appear- 

 ances was likely to continue so throughout the season. 

 The prevailing vegetation consisted of bushes of worm- 

 wood, stinted in growth, and unyielding. 



After making thirty-three miles, they encamped 

 among loose sand, one hundred feet above the water of 

 the river. Many rattlesnakes were found in this vicin- 

 ity. 



Owing to the quantities of musquitoes, combined 

 with the fear of snakes, the party obtained little or no 

 rest, and were all glad to mount their horses and pro- 

 ceed on their way. 



In the early part of the day, they arrived at the junc- 

 tion of the Spipen with the Yakima : previous to this 

 they crossed another branch, coming in from the south- 

 west ; the waters of the latter were very turbid, of a 

 dark-brown colour, and it was conjectured that it had its 

 source at or near Mount Rainier. Along its banks was 

 seen a range of basaltic columns. The Yakima was 

 crossed during the day in canoes, the river not being 

 yet fordable. 



The country, which had for some days exhibited the 

 appearance of the Tillandsia districts of Peru, had now 

 begun to acquire a tinge of green, and some scattered 

 pine trees had become visible. Some small oaks were 

 passed, which appeared of a local character. This 

 night they again had a number of rattlesnakes in their 

 camp. 



On the 8th, the valley had narrowed, and the banks 

 becoming more perpendicular, they had a great many 

 difficulties to encounter. They stopped at the camp of 

 old Tidias, whom, it will be recollected, they had 

 encountered after crossing the mountains, and from 

 whom they obtained some horses. They soon after- 

 wards arrived at the path where they had turned off 

 to the north. The river had fallen very much during 

 their absence, and there was a marked difference in the 

 season, the vegetation being much more backward than 



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