110 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



CHAPTER VII. 



Departure of .Mr. JMcXay^s parti/. Captain Stewart, and the missionaries — 

 Debauch at the fort — Departure of the company — Poor provision — Blackfeet 

 hunting ground — A toilsome journey, and sufferings from thirst — Goddin's 

 creek — Antoine Goddin, the trapper — Scarcity of game — A buffalo — Rugged 

 mountains — Comforting reflections of the traveller — More game — Unusual 

 economy — Habits of the white -wolf — " Thor7iburg's pass'" — Dijicult travel- 

 ling — The captain in Jeopardy among the snow — Jl countermarch — Deserted 

 Banneck camp — Toilsome and dangerous passage of the mountain — JMallade 

 river — Beaver dams, and heaver — A party of Snake Indians — Scarcity of 

 pasture — Another Banneck camp — " Kamas prairie'''' — Indian mode of pre- 

 paring the kamas — Racine blanc, or biscuit root — Travelling over the hills — 

 Loss of horses by fatigue — Boisie or Big-wood river — Salmon — Clioke-cher- 

 ries, &c. 



On the 30th of July, Mr. McKay and his party left us for 

 Fort Vancouver, Captain Stewart and our band of misionaries ac- 

 companying them. The object of the latter in leaving us, is, 

 that they may have an opportunity of travelling more slowly 

 than we should do, on account, and for the benefit of the horned 

 cattle which they are driving to the lower country. We feel 

 quite sad in the prospect of parting from those with whom w^e 

 have endured some toil and danger, and who have been to some 

 of us as brothers, throughout our tedious journey ; but, if no 

 unforeseen accident occurs, we hope to meet them all again at 

 Walla- Walla, the upper fort on the Columbia. As the party 

 rode off, we fired three rounds, which were promptly answered, 

 and three times three cheers wished the travellers success. 



August 5th. — At sunrise this morning, the " star-spangled 

 banner" was raised on the flag-staff at the fort, and a salute 



