152 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
Accordingly we set off. It required me three hours to get my courage up to the sticking point, 
во Њаё І could bear the pain growing out of travelling at a gait faster than a walk ; but getting 
warm in the saddle we increased our speed, and on reaching the Touchet we dismounted for a 
slight halt. Pushing on a little before two o’clock we reached Fort Walla-Walla at sundown, 
moving the last twenty-five miles at the rate of about eight miles an hour, and were there 
hospitably received by Mr. Pembrum, the factor in charge, and after a little conversation I 
refreshed myself with reading some late papers. Өр the road my time was much occupied іп 
studying the deportment of the mountain ranges in view, and all the peculiarities of the country 
about me, to judge something of its winter climate and the probable falls of snow ; and on 
reaching Walla-Walla I became satisfied from these things, and especially from a view of the 
highest spur of the Blue mountains in sight, that the snows of the Cascades could not be so 
formidable as they had been represented. I accordingly determined to search throughly into 
this matter at Walla-Walla. 
November 2.—The country between the Snake and Walla-Walla rivers is over high rolling 
prairies. On the road I travelled the grass was uniformly good, but on leaving the Snake the 
first water was the Touchet, 272 miles distant. This was the longest march we had accomplished 
without water after leaving Fort Benton, perhaps the longest between the Mississippi and the 
Columbia. Captain MeClellan, by a slight change of direction, striking the Touchet higher up, 
and crossing the Walla-Walla valley by a more central line, found good water and camps at 
less that 20 miles apart. 
November 3 to 8.—I remained in the Walla-Walla country during these days, ا‎ two 
days up the valley, and the remainder at the fort. The valley which I visited on the 4th 
‘and 5th of November I was greatly pleased with. Mr. Stanley, with the train, reached the 
fort on the 3d, and on— | 
November 4.—We started upon the trip through this valley, riding upon our horses. Arriving 
at the Hudson Bay farm, we exchanged them for fresh ones, sending back to Walla-Walla the 
old ones by an Indian. This farm is 18 miles from Walla-Walla, and is a fine tract of land, well 
adapted to grazing or cultivation, It is naturally bounded by streams, and is equivalent to a 
mile square. "There is the richest grass here that we have seen since leaving St. Mary's. 
Two herders tend their animals, and a small house is erected for their accommodation. From 
this we went to McBane’s house, a retired factor of the company, from whence we had a fine 
view of the southern portion of the valley, which is watered by many tributaries from the 
Blue mountains. The land here is very nutritious. McBane was in chargé of Fort Walla-Walla 
during the occurrence of the Cayuse difficulties. Thirty miles from Walla-Walla, and near 
McBane's, lives Father Chirouse, a missionary of the Catholic order, who, with two laymen, 
exercises his influence among the surrounding tribes. A party of emigrants, who had lost 
nearly all their animals are sheltered here at this time. From Chirouse and McBane I learned 
that the emigrants frequently cast wishful eyes upon the valley, but having made no arrange- 
ment with the Indians they are unable to settle here. 
A sketch is here given of old Fort Walla-Walla. 
November 5.—We remained with Mr. McBane over night and returned to the fort to-day 
by the way of the Whitman’s mission, now occupied by Bumford and Brooke. They were 
harvesting, and Isaw as fine potatoes as ever I beheld—many weighing 2 pounds, and one 
weighing 51. Their carrots and beets, too, were of extraordinary size. Mr. Whitman must 
