fi2 NAURATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



and refreshing, resembling Saratoga water, but not so saline. 

 The whole plain to the hills, is covered with little mounds formed 

 of calcareous sinter, having depressions on their summits, from 

 which once issued streams of water. The extent of these erup- 

 tions, at some former period, must have been very great. At 

 about half a mile distant, is an eruptive thermal spring of the 

 temperature of 90°, and near this is an opening in the earlh from 

 which a stream of gas issues without water. 



In a thicket of common red cedars, near our camp, I found, 

 and procured several specimens of two beautiful and rare birds 

 which I had never before seen — the Lewis' woodpecker and 

 Clark's crow, [Picus torquatus and Corvus columbianus.) 



We remained the whole of the following day in camp to 

 recruit our horses, and a good opportunity was thus afforded me 

 of inspecting all the curiosities of this wonderful region, and of 

 procuring some rare and valuable specimens of birds. Three of 

 our hunters sallied forth in pursuit of several buffalo whose tracks 

 had been observed by some of the men, and we were overjoyed 

 to see them return in the evening loaded with the meat and 

 marrow bones of two animals which they had killed. 



We saw here the whooping crane, and white pelican, numerous ; 

 and in the small streams near the bases of the hills, the common 

 canvass-back duck, shoveller, and black duck, (Anas obscura,) 

 were feeding their voung. 



We were this evening visited by Mr. Thomas McKay,* an 

 Indian trader of some note in the mountains. He is a step-son of 

 Dr. McLaughlin, the chief factor at Fort Vancouver, on the 



• This is the son of Mr. Alexander McKay, who was massacred bj- the Indians 

 of the N. W. Coast on board the ship " Tonquin," an account of which is given in 

 Irving's " Astoria." I have often heard McKay speak of the tragical fate of his 

 parent, and with the bitter animosity and love of revenge inherited from his Indian 

 mother, I have heard him declare that he will yet be known on the coast as the 

 avenger of blood. 



