m 181 [ 174] 
emerged on an open mountain side, where we found a number of small 
‘springs, and os after a day’s journey of 10 miles. Our elevation 
here was 5,000 fee! 
October 21. D Phere was a very heavy white frost during the night, and 
‘the ae sunrise was 30° 
continued to travel through the forest, in which the road was ren- 
decd difficult by fallen trunks, and obstructed by many small trees, which 
it was necessary to cut down. But these are only accidental difficulties, 
which could easily be removed, and a very excellent road may be had 
through this pass, with no other than very moderate ascents or declivities. 
A laborious day, which had advanced us only six miles on our road, brought 
us in the afternoon to oy opening in the forest, in which there was a fine 
mountain meadow, w ood grass, anda large clear-water stream—one 
of the head branches 7 e Umatilah river. Durin Thi s day’s ourney, 
the barometer was broken; and the elevations above the sea, hereafter given, 
depend upon the temperature of boiling water. Some of the white spruces 
hich I sured to-day were twelve feet in circumference, and one of the 
larches ten; but eight feet was the average circumference of those measured 
along the r oad. held in my hand a tape line asI walked along, in order 
to form some correct idea of the size of the timber. Their height appeared 
to be from 100 to 180, and perhaps 200 feet, and the trunks of the larches 
were sometimes 100 feet without a limb; but the white spruces were gen- 
erally covered with branches nearly to the root. All these trees have their 
branches, particularly the lower ones, declining. 
October 22.—The white frost this morning was like snow on the gro ound ; 
the ice was a quarter of an inch thick on the cr , and the thermometer at 
sunrise was at 20°. But, in a few hours, the day became warm and pleas- 
ant, a our road over the mountains was delightful and full of enjoyment. 
o* trail” assed sometimes through very thick young timber, i in which 
Prides was mitch cutting to be done; but, after travelling | 
tween em. On our right was a mountain plateau, covered with a dense 
forest; and to the westward, aaa below us, was the great Nez 
Percé (pierced nose) prairie, in which dark lines of timber’ indicated the 
course of many affluents to a considerable stream that was seen pursuing 
its way across the plain towards what a peared to be the Columbia river. 
This I knew to be the Walahwal.h river, and occasional spots along its 
banks, which resembled clearings, were pee to be the mission or In- 
7 
dian settlements; but the weather was smoky and unfavorable to far views 
_ With the “ga The ie displayed here in the escarpments is a compact 
“a which appears to constitute the mass of the Blue moun- 
tains in this Nieide : ee all the region: of country through which we have 
travelled since leaving the Snake river has been the seat of violentand 
extensive igneous action. Along the Burnt river valley, the strata are evi- 
dently sedimentary rocks, altered by the intrusion of volcanic” 1 
which in some instances have penetrated and essentially »changed : 
original condition. Along our line of route from this point.to the C: | 
nia edisuantar, mee seems ten little essential change. All our specimens 
of sedimentar ocks sho w them +? ia much altered, and Moxa a 
he, whole intervening d 
¥ 
= 
e 
— 
ge 
x 
Py 
a: 
