187 aay 
man, W  cofttion with the a rushed out of the huts on our 
“titra, ‘ad co in default of other covering, used a child for a fig | leaf. 
oad in about half an hour agoant near an elevated ed point, fon 
med we overlooked the valley of the Columbia for many miles, a 
‘in the distance several houses surrounded by fields, which a chief, who had 
accompanied us from the village, pointed out to us as the ethodist 4 
Sta 
‘sionary station. a 
In a few miles we descended to the river, which ‘ reached atiahe Bt 
its remarkably interesting features, known as the Dalles of the Columb 
The whole volume of the river at this place passed between the walls of . a 
chasm, which has the appearance of having been rent through the basaltic 
strata which form the valley rock of the region. At the narrowest place 
we found the breadth, by measurement, 58 yards, and the average height 
of the walls above the water 25 feet ; forming a trough between the 
rocks—whence the name, probably applied by a Canadian voyageur. The 
mass of water, in the present low state of the river, passed swiftly between, 
deep and black, and curled into many small whirlpools and counter cur- 
rents, but unbroken sie pacts and so still that scarcely the sound of a ripple 
was heard. The siderable distance from the river, 
worn over a fess itor ‘of i its surface into circular holes and well-like 
cavities, by the abrasion of the river, which, at the season of high watchs 
is spread out over the adjoining bottoms. 
- In the recent passage through this chasm, an unfortunate event had oc- 
curred to Mr. Applegate’s party, in the loss of one of their boats, which had 
been carried under water in the mr of the ty sep and two of Mr. A 
plegate’s children and one man drow ortune was attributed 
be a to want of shill in the stersman, as at this se season there is.no impedi- 
round cavities. 
We passed ees ie three or four iifles down cbse lever vatteg: ie en- 
camped near the ni The character of the forest growth here 
changed, and we fiend “oeulves,. with pleasure, again among oaks and 
other forest trees of the east, to which we had long been rg ae and the 
hospitable and kind'reception with which we were welcomed among our 
country people at the mission aided the momentary illusion of home. 
. Two good-looking wooden dwelling houses, and a large school house, 
with et barn, and garden, and large cleared fields between the houses 
and the riv er bank, on which were scattered the wooden huts of an Indian 
village, gave to the valley the cheerful and busy air of civilization, and had 
in our eyes an appearance of ab and enviable re 
Ou poets y found here its western termination. 
x toa ond m WE hich th 1ey a 
ait: to Mr. ed are 
missionary station, a1 
and 00 3h 
ea <% 
eS . 
+ ee 
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