242 NAERATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



beauty. In a short time I stood on its border, tbe whole cortege 

 of canoes and pedestrians following; and as each one came he de- 

 posited his burden on a little open plat, which constituted the 

 terminus of the Indian trail. In a few moments a little fire 

 threw up its blaze, and the pan o^jyigieii^ or pine pitch, was heated 

 to mend the seams of the bark canoes. AVhen this was done, 

 they were instantly put into the lake, with their appropriate bag- 

 gage ; and the little flotilla of five canoes was soon in motion, 

 passing down one of the most tranquil and pure sheets of water of 

 which it is possible to conceive. There was not a breath of wind. 

 We often rested to behold the scene. It is not a lake overhung 

 by rocks. Not a precipice is in sight, or a stone, save the pebbles 

 and boulders of the drift era, which are scattered on the beach. 

 The waterfowl, whom we disturbed in their seclusion, seemed 

 rather loath to fly up. At one point we observed a deer, stand- 

 ing in the water, and stooping down, apparently to eat moss. 



The diluvial hills inclosing the basin, at distances of one or two 

 miles, are covered with pines. From these elevations the lands 

 slope gently down to the water's edge, which is fringed with a mixed 

 foliage of deciduous and evergreen species. After passing some 

 few miles down its longest arm, we landed at an island, which 

 appeared to be the only one in the lake. I immediately had my 

 tent pitched, and while the cook exerted his skill to prepare a 

 meal, scrutinized its shores for Crustacea, while Dr. Houghton 

 sought to identify its plants. While here, the latter recognized 

 the mycrostylis ophioglossoides, physalis lanceolata, silene antir- 

 rhina, and viola pedata. We found the elm, lynn, soft maple, 

 and wild cherry, mingled with the fir species. 



An arm of the lake stretches immediately south from this 

 island, which receives a small brook. Lieutenant Allen, who 

 estimates the greatest length of the lake at seven miles, drew the 

 following sketch of its configuration. (See p. 243.) 



The latitude of this lake is 47° 13' 35".* The highest grounds 

 passed over b}' us, in our transit from the Assowa Lake, lie at an 

 elevation of 1,695 feet. The view given of the scene in the first 



* By the report of Governor Stevens (June, 1854), the selected pass for the con- 

 templated railroad through the St. Mary to the Columbia vallej is in 47° 30^, where 

 there is but little snow at any time, and rich pasturage for cattle. The phenomena 

 of the Climates of our northern latitudes are but little understood. 



