161 cay 
still higher peaks looking out above the range. The vatiey afforded a 
levelroad ; but.it was late when it brought us to water, and we encainpés 
at dark. . The northwest wind had blown up very ‘eold weather, and the’ 
artemisia, which was our fire wood to-night, did not happen to be very 
abundant. This plantlovesa dry, sandy soil,and cannot grow in the gdoee 
bottoms where it is.rich and moist, but on every little eminence, whi 
water does not rest long, it majntains absolute possession. Blevation al 
the sea about 5,100 feet.  ~ « 
\t night scattered fires glimmered along the mountains, pointing out’ 
camps of the Indians ; and we contrasted the comparative seeurity in which’ 
we travelled through this country, with the guarded vigilance we were com-_ 
pelled to exert among the Sioux and other Indians on the eastern sidé of 
the Rocky mountains. ee 
' At sunset the thermometer was at 50°, and at midnight at 30°, ail 
r1%.—The morning sky was calm‘and clear, the temperature 
<= 
eS 
at daylight being 25°, and at sunrise 20°. There is throughout this moun. ° * 
tain country a remarkable difference between the morning and midday © 
temperatures, which at this season was very generally 40° or 50°, and oc-— 
casionally greater ; and frequently, after a very frosty morning, the heat in’ 
a few hours would render the thinnest clothing agreeable. About noon we 
reached the main fork. The Pannack river was before us; the valley be- 
ing here 14 mile wide, fertile, and bordered by smooth hills, not over 500 
feet high, partly covered with cedar; a high ridge, in which there isa 
prominent peak, rising behind those on the left. We continued to descend © 
this stream, and found on it at night a warm and comfortable camp. Flax 
occurred so frequently during the day as to be almost a characteristic, and 
the soil appeared excellent. ‘he opposite hills on the right are broken here 
into agreat variety of shapes. The evening was gusty, with a temperature 
at sunset of 59°, I obtained, about midnight, an observation of an emer- ’ 
sion of the first satellite ; the night being calm and very clear, the stars re- 
itkabdly bright, and the thermometer at 30°. Longitude, from re 
satellite and chronometer, 112° 29' 52"; and latitude, by observation, 42°. 
44' 40"... ee ave, EAS OEE © Je 5 gael 
September 18.—The day clear and calm, with a temperature of 25° at 
sunrise. After travelling seven or eight miles, we emerged on the plains of 
the Columbia, in sight of the famous “ Three Buttes,” a well-known land- ° 
mark in the country, distant about 45 miles. The French word be 
Which so often oecurs in this narrative, is retained from the familiar dan-— 
guage of the country, and identifies the objects to which it refers. It-is 
naturalized in the region of the Rocky mountains; and, even if desirable to 
render it in English, | know of no word which would be its precise equiv- 
alent. Itis applied to the detached hills and*ridges which rise abruptly, 
and reach too high to be called: hills or ridges, and not high enough 
to be éalled mountains. Knob, as applied in the western States, is théir 
most descriptive term in English. Cerro is the Spanish term; but no 
translation, or paraphrasis, would preserve the identity of these picturesque: 
- 
landmarks, familiar to the traveller, and often seen at a great distaneés 
Covered as far as: could be seen with artemisia, the dark aud uly appearanee 
of this plain obtained for it the name of the Sage Deseri ; and we were 
agreeably surprised, dn geaching the Portneuf river, to see « beautiful gr 
* 
miles distant, wee glistening the white walls of the fort. ‘Phe J } 
: ll | ies 
valley: with seattered timber spread out beneath us, on wie 
sire 8 
