MOUNT RAINIER 



of them equipped to ascend the mountain, and the 

 other two to take care of our horses when we should 

 be compelled to leave them. We started the soldiers 

 on the direct route, with orders to stop at Mr. Wren's, 

 on the eastern limit of the Nesqually plains, ten or 

 twelve miles distant, and wait for us, while the doctor 

 and I went by the Nesqually Reservation in order to 

 pick up old Wah-pow-e-ty, the Indian guide. 



We remained all night at Wren's, and the next morn- 

 ing entered that immense belt of timber with which 

 the western slope of the Cascade Range is covered 

 throughout its entire length. I had become familiar 

 with the Indian trail that we followed, the year previ- 

 ous, in our pursuit of Indians. The little patches 

 of prairie are so rare that they constitute in that im- 

 mense forest landmarks for the guidance of the traveler. 

 Six miles from Wren's we came to Pawhtummi, a little 

 camas prairie about 500 yards long, and 100 in breadth, 

 a resort for the Indians in the proper season to gather 

 the camas-root. Six miles farther we came to a similar 

 prairie, circular in form, not more than 400 yards in 

 diameter, called Koaptil. Another six or seven miles 

 took us to the Tanwut, a small stream with a patch of 

 prairie bordering it, where the trail crossed. Ten or 

 twelve miles more brought us to the Mishawl Prairie, 

 where we camped for the night, this being the end of 

 the journey for our horses, and the limit of our knowl- 

 edge of the country. 



This prairie takes its name from the stream near 

 by, and is situated between it and the Owhap on a 

 high table-land or bluff, not more than one or two 

 miles from where these enter the Nesqually. It is 

 perhaps half a mile long, and 200 or 300 yards wide 

 at the widest point. The grass was abundant, and 

 it was an excellent place to leave our horses. Fifteen 

 months before, I had visited this spot, and camped 

 near by with a small detachment of troops, searching 

 for Indians who had hidden away in these forests, 



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