NARRATIVE OF 1853. 109 
Here his only mercurial barometer was broken, and he was obliged to depend on the aneroid 
for a profile of the remainder of the route. The country north of the Snake was much superior 
to that south of the Columbia; and, making long marches in a northwest direction, in three days 
and a half he reached the Spokane river, 85 miles in a direct line from the Snake, and about 90 
as travelled. The last forty miles was through a beautiful, open pine forest, the trees of im- 
mense size, and interspersed with fine lakes and ponds. Неге he met with the Spokanes, the 
most noble tribe he had yet seen, whose chief, Garry, spoke good English, having been edu- 
cated by the Hudson Bay Company. 
They also had been told that his object was to make war upon them, but were delighted to 
find friends, and came in great numbers to welcome his party. About thirty mounted warriors, 
in full costume, formed upon a high hill and sang a song of welcome, making the hills re-echo 
with their wild music; and, as the setting sun shone upon the band, the scene was strikingly 
grand and imposing. Не left with them three disabled horses, to be taken care of until our 
return, and gave them a few presents, informing them that they were sent to them by the 
Great Father at Washington. 
Here he met Mr. Owen, who, with his brother, had spent several years in the Bitter Root 
valley, trading and raising stock. They had abandoned the post from fear of the Blackfeet, 
but his arrival enabled them to return and re-establish it. 
Proceeding, on August "th, across the beautiful and extensive Cœur 4” Aléne prairie, he re- 
entered the thick forest, the trees in many places being so close as scarcely to admit an animal 
with a pack between them, and where the animals, much annoyed by yellow wasps, dashed off 
through the woods and injured their packs. 
On the 10th he reached the outlet of Pend d’Oreille lake, sixty miles from the Spokane, 
and finding an old batteau of the Hudson Bay Company, after repairing it, made use of it to 
carry his loads over the river, which was about 600 yards wide and very deep. 
In crossing several horses were lost, and, to relieve the weaker ones; Lieutenant Arnold took 
the heaviest articles to the head of the lake in the batteau. Just above the lake he met a party 
of about a hundred Pend 4 Oreille Indians, returning from a hunting excursion to the Missouri, 
all mounted on fine horses, and carrying the buffalo robes and meat to trade with more western 
tribes. 
They were perfectly civil and seemed to feel proud, rich, and independent. From them he 
heard rumors of a large party of white men coming from the east, to make peace with the 
Blackfeet. He describes Pend d’Oreille lake as being а beautiful sheet of water among the 
mountains. Travelling along the northern shore he was obliged to climb some very steep hills, 
in order to avoid the water. The whole region is covered with a dense forest of pine, cedar, 
and other forest trees, similar to New England. On the shore of the lake are many fine 
meadows, covered with luxuriant grass. At the upper end of the lake he found Lieutenant 
Arnold, with the boat, who had had a pleasant voyage up the lake, and spoke in the highest 
terms of the beauty of its scenery. à 
The next sixty-five miles, along the valley of Clark's Fork, is over a somewhat difficult trail, 
there being places where the sharp rocks injured the animals. The Cabinet, a high spur over- 
hanging the river, clothed to its summit with a heavy forest growth, was crossed in this dis- 
tance. "The country generally was densely wooded, but much of the grass was burned. There 
is no difficulty, however, in getting sufficient grass for animals along this distance, except for 
one camp, where the grass is somewhat scanty. In such cases animals scatter very much, and 
