PERILOUS ADVENTURES OF ROSS COX. 205 



PERILOUS ADVENTURES OF MR, ROSS COX, 



MR. Cox's book is entitled " Adventures on the Col- 

 umbia river, including the narrative of a residence of six 

 years on the west side of the Rocky Mountains among 

 various tribes of Indians ; together wi,th a journey across 

 the Rocky Mountains." It is exceedingly entertaining ; 

 and as it abounds with curious hunting adventures, we 

 shall make some extracts from it. Mr.. Cox left Astoria 

 with a trading party, (June 29th, 1812,) and went up the 

 Columbia river to visit and trade with the Indians. The 

 following extract gives an account of his most perilous 

 adventure. 



On the 17th of August we left our encampment a little 

 after four A. M. During the forenoon the sun was in- 

 tensely hot. Occasional bright green patches, inter- 

 mixed with wild flowers, and gently rising eminences, 

 partially covered with clumps of small trees, gave an 

 agreeable variety to the face of the country ; which we 

 enjoyed the more, from the scorched and sterile uniformity 

 of the plains through which wo had passed on the two 

 preceding days. We got no water, however, until twelve 

 o'clock, when we arrived in a small valley of the most 

 delightful verdure, through which ran a clear stream 

 from the northward, over a pebbly bottom. The horses 

 were immediately turned loose to regale themselves in 

 the rich pasture ; and as it was full of red and white 

 clover, orders were given not to catch them until two 

 o'clock, by which time we thought they would be suf- 

 ficently refreshed for the evening's journey. 



