[ 174] 212 
necessary time for hunting. At one of these orchard grounds, we /e encamped 
about noon to make an effort for Mr. Preuss. One man took his way along 
a spur leadin ng into the river, in hope to cross his trail; and another took 
-ourown back. Both were volunteers ; and to the successful man w 
~ ised a pair of pistols-——not asa reward, but as a token of gratitude for a 
service which would free us all from much anxiety. 
We had among our few animals a horse which was so much reduced, 
_ that,.with eet | even the good grass could mot save him; and , having 
nothing to eat, he was killed this afternoon. He was a good animal, and 
had made the j je rney round from Fort Halil. o> 
Dodecatheon dentatum continued the characteristic plant i in Lowée and 
the naked-looking shrub already mentioned ot characteristic, begin- 
ning to put forth a 2 small white blossom. At ev ening the men eS at — 
ing seen or heard nothing of Mr. Preuss; and f determine: ma 
hard push down'the river the next morning, and get ahead of him 
March 4.—We continued rapidly along on a broad lainly- beaten trail, 
the mere travelling and breathing the delightful air being a positive enjoy- 
ment. Our road led along a ridge inclining to the river, and the air and 
= the open grounds were fragrant with flowering shrubs; and in the course 
of the morning we issued on an open spur, by which we descended directly 
to the stteam. Here the river issues suddenly from the mountains, whic 
hitherto had hemmed it closely in; these now become softer, and change 
sensibly their character ; and at this point commences the most beautiful 
valley in which we had ever travelled. We hurried to the river, on which 
we noticed a small sand beach, to which Mr. Preuss would naturally have 
gone. We found no trace of bim, but, instead, were recent tracks of bare- 
footed Indians, and little piles of muscle shells, and old fires where they 
had roasted the fish. We travelled on over the river grounds, which were 
undulating, and covered with grass to the river briftk. We halted to noon 
few miles beyond, always under the shade of the evergreen oaks, which 
itmed open groves on the bottoms.  ~ 
Continuing our road in the afternoon, we: aecbiaded to the uplands, where 
“the river passes round a point of great ‘beauty , and goes thtough very re- 
-markable dalles, in character resembling those of the umbia river, and 
‘which you will find mentioned on the map annexed. Beyond, we again 
‘descended to the bottoms, where we found an [Indian vans consisting of 
two-or three huts; we had come upon them suddenly, and the people had 
evidently just ran off. The huts were low and slight, ol like beehives 
_ ima picture, five or six feet high, and near each was a erate, formed of in- 
_terlaced branches and grass, in size and shape like a very large e ho 
a 
ch of these contained from six to nine bushels. Th ese were filled with — 
ie gong acorns already mentioned, and in the buts were several a 
ets, containing quantities of the acorns roasted. They were sweet 
seably flavored, and we supplied ourselves with about half a bushel, 
ne of our shirts, a handkerehief, and some smaller articles, in ex- 
‘he river again entered for aspace among hills, and we followed 
x across a bend through a handsome hollow behind. Ber 
en; in trying f circumvent a deer, we diseovered some 
on a hill hundred yards ahead, and gave them a shout, eaetich 
they responde by loud and rapid talking and vehement gestirulation, be 
_ made no stop, hurryin, up the mountain as fast as their legs soe — 
them. We passed on, and again encamped in oe. grove. 
» S 3 % 
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