150 NARRATIVK OF A JOURNEV 



CHAPTER IX. 



Passage of the Blue Mountains— Sufferings from thirst— Utalla river— A 

 transformation— A novel meal— Walla-walla river— Columbia river and Fort 

 Walla-walla — 1 dinner with the missionaries — inecdote of Mr. Lee— A 

 noble repast— Brief notice of the Fort— Departure of the missionaries— JVotice 

 of the Walla-walla Indians— Departure for Fort Vancouver-Wild ducks- 

 Indian graves— Indian horses— Visits from Indians— Ophthalmia, a prevalent 

 disease— Hough travelling— A company of Chinook Indians— The Dalles— 

 The party joined by Captain Wyeth— Embarkation in canoes — 4 heavy 

 gale— Dangerous navigation— Pusillanimous conduct of an Indian helms- 

 man—A zealous botanist— Departure of Captain Wyeth with five men- 

 Cascades— A portage— Meeting rvith the missionaries— Loss of a canoe— A 

 toilsome duty — Arrival at Fort Vancouver —reflections suggested by it— Dr. 

 John McLoughlin, the chief factoi — Domiciliation of the travellers at Fort 

 Vancouver. 



September 1st.— The path through the valley, in which we 

 encamped last night, was level and smooth for about a mile; we 

 then mounted a short, steep hill, and began immediately to descend. 

 The road down the mountain wound constantly, and we travelled 

 in short, zig-zag lines, in order to avoid the extremely abrupt decli- 

 vities; but occasionally, we were compelled to descend in places 

 that made us pause before making the attempt : they were, some of 

 them, almost perpendicular, and our horses would frequently slide 

 several yards, before they could recover. To this must be added 

 enormous jagged masses of rock, obstructing the road in many 

 places, and pine trees projecting their horizontal branches across 

 the path. 



The road continued, as I have described it, to the valley in 

 the plain, and a full hour was consumed before we reached it. 



