124 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



about one hundred yards, and a full hour was consumed in pass- 

 ing through it. Wc then entered immediately a rich and beauti- 

 ful valley, covered profusely with a splendid blue Lupin. The 

 mountains on either side are of much less height than those we 

 have passed, and entirely bare, the pine trees which generally 

 cover, and ornament them, having disappeared. During the 

 morning, we ascended and descended several high and stony 

 hills, and early in the afternoon, emerged upon a large, level 

 prairie, and struck a branch of Mallade river, where we en- 

 camped. 



While we were unloading, we observed a number of Indians 

 ahead, and not being aware of their character, stood with our 

 horses saddled, while Captain W. and Richardson rode out to re- 

 connoitre. In about half an hour they returned, and informed 

 us that they were Snakes who were returning from the fisheries, 

 and travelling towards the buffalo on the " big river," (Shoshone.) 

 We therefore unsaddled our poor jaded horses and turned them 

 out to feed upon the luxuriant pasture around the camp, while 

 we, almost equally jaded, threw ourselves down in our blankets 

 to seek a little repose and quiet after the toils and fatigues of a 

 long day's march. 



Soon after we encamped, the Snake chief and two of his young 

 men visited us. We formed a circle around our lodge and smoked 

 the pipe of peace with them, after which we made them each a 

 present of a yard of scarlet cloth for loggings, some balls and 

 powder, a knife, and a looking glass. Captain W. then asked 

 ^ them a number of questions, through an interpreter, relative to 

 the route, the fishery, &c. &c., — and finally bought of them a 

 small quantity of dried salmon, and a little fermented kamas or 

 quamash root. The Indians remained with us until dark, and 

 then left us quietly for their own camp. There are two lodges 

 of them, in all about twenty persons, but none of them presumed 

 to come near us, with the exception of the three men, two 



