146 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
Donelson. It will be seen, that though a very fine examination had been made of the eastern 
slope of the Cascades, no line had been run by Captain McClellan to Puget Sound, and I 
deemed it of the greatest consequence to carry through such a line, so that we could speak 
with positiveness and certainty of the grades on the western sides, and the other facts bearing 
upon the question of railroad practicability. Captain McClellan was of opinion that it was 
possible to carry such a line through at this season of the year, although he apprehended that 
some difficulty might be found from the presence of snow. 
I accordingly resolved to bring the whole party together at a camp south of the Spokane 
river, then to arrange parties so as to move to the Sound and the lower Columbia in such a way 
as would give the best additional knowledge of the country. 
Garry this evening arrived at Colville with his wheat to be ground, and holds himself in 
readiness to take instructions to Lieutenant Donelson in regard to the place of meeting. 
October 20.—I determined to remain here another day and to be prepared to go off to-mor- 
row. We dined with McDonald, in company with Pére Louis. In the evening I addressed the 
Indians, telling them of the interest government took in them, and that measures had been 
taken to secure peace between the Blackfeet and all the other Indian tribes. That government 
would do for them what it had done for the other Indians. During the day I inspected 
McClellan’s animals and examined further into his work. 
I was much gratified to learn that Duncan has kept his field-work plotted up from day to day. 
The whole party seems to be well organized. Iam particularly well pleased with the labor of 
Mr. Gibbs in connexion with Indian affairs. He is a thoroughly educated man, and combines 
the habits of a student with the good qualities of woodsman and mountaineer, and has become 
very well acquainted with the Indian tribes through whose country the party has passed. 
And not only has he become acquainted with these Indians, but le has also interested the 
priests at the Missions in his work, and from them he has obtained much valuable assistance. 
Garry started with a letter to Donelson, appointing as a place of meeting a valley south of the 
Spokane river, some ten or twelve miles south of the Spokane House. This spot is only a short 
distance off the trail leading from Walker and Eel's Mission to Walla-Walla. From inquiries 
concerning Dr. Suckley's route I learned that the river between the Pend d'Oreilles Mission 
and Colville, sixty miles, is much obstructed by rapids, and that at this season of the year it is 
difficult, if not dangerous, for canoe navigation. I have, therefore, determined to senda letter 
to Dr. Suckley at the Pend а’ Oreilles Mission, advising him not to take this portion of the trip 
by canoe without very carefully weighing the matter beforehand, suggesting to him to take 
horses at the Mission, with which he could be supplied by the priests. At Colville he is at 
liberty to take the land route with Lieutenant Arnold or to continue down the river in boats ; 
or should Lieutenant Arnold take the river, they can, if they choose, descend together. I leave 
the whole matter to his own discretion, simply giving him information that he may not act 
unadvisedly or feel obliged to continue the trip by canoe to carry out the instructions received at 
St. Mary’s. Lieutenant Arnold will ascend the Columbia to the 49th parallel, examining care- 
fully near the mouth of the Clark’s Fork, and ascertaining its latitude by astronomical observa- 
tions. After conference again between McClellan and myself, the following programme was 
decided upon for our operations after meeting Donelson, subject to such modifications as may 
be found necessary by the condition of the animals and of the instruments in the main party. 
McClellan and Lander are to cross the Columbia above the mouth of the Yakima, and to carry 
a railroad line through the Snoqualmoo Pass to Puget Sound ; Lieutenant Duncan to cross the 
