200 NARRATIVE OF 1855. 
wood; pines were seen to the eastward of us, about a mile distant. In 31 miles we crossed 
a divide covered with pine. A most excellent camp is to be found one mile before reaching 
this divide. Іп 43 niiles, passing over a rolling, well grassed, and arable country, we reached 
a second divide, also covered with pine; and in two miles more we made our camp on the 
Peluse. Between the two divides a trail branches off to the Spokane country. The kamas 
grounds on our route are watered by several tributaries, which flow into the Teenat-pan-up 
branch of the Peluse. Before descending into the valley of the Peluse, I ascended a very 
high hill on the last divide, and westward of our trail, where I had a most distinct and interest- 
ing view of the sources of the Peluse.—(See sketch.) So much was I impressed with it, that I 
directed Mr. Doty to carefully take notes and lay down the river on his map. It has its source 
in the main ridge of the Bitter Root, sixty or eighty miles distant from the hill where we observed 
it, and flows in nearly a straight course through a valley some twenty miles wide, bearing north 
TT? east, through a country densely timbered with pine. There is probably a pass to the Bitter 
Root valley, by the line of the Peluse. I will remark, again, that the country in this day's 
travel has been of the same general character as that of yesterday. The bottom land of the 
Peluse has great resources. It is very heavily timbered with pine, with but very little under- 
brush ; and the country throughout is open, the grazing being most admirable. We hadaview 
down the Peluse for some thirty or forty miles, and the timber was apparently as large and 
abundant at the lower end of the valley, as at our present camp. Many trees are to be seen 
three and four feet through, with a proportionate height. 
Friday, June 22.—We made to-day eighteen miles, and camped in the celebrated Kamas 
prairie of the Coeur d' Aléne, and on the river of the same name. In seven miles we came toa 
spring with abundant wood, one mile before reaching which the trail joined us which leaves 
the northern tributary of the Tukanon, as stated in the journal of June 18. In five miles 
further we crossed a divide covered with pine ; and two miles further on, came to a small stream 
which afforded a good camping place. In two miles further crossed a low divide, and in half 
a mile came to running water, affording a good camp. In half a mile further we came to à 
delightful spring surrounded by a grove of cotton-wood, with pine near at hand ; and in one 
mile came to running water on the Cœur d'Aléne kamas grounds. At these kamas grounds 
there were twenty-five lodges of Coeur d' Alénes, and about 250 Indians, who visited our camp 
and gave us information about the Cœur d' Aléne Indians and the country. The chief and his 
principal men agreed to meet me at the mission. Towards evening we were visited by Slyotze, 
one of the Peluse chiefs, and some twenty of his men. His camp consisted of eleven lodges 
and 137 souls. Four lodges more were down the Peluse, and ten men, women, and children 
were at the falls of the Peluse. In conversation, Slyotze expressed his own and his people's 
satisfaction with the treaty. They regarded Kamiakin as the head chief of the Yakima nation, 
and the Peluses as a tribe of that nation. 
Saturday, June 23.—To-day we moved 18} miles, and camped at the Guts of the Coeur d' Aléne 
lake. The first four miles took us over a rolling country to a very large spring on the left of 
our trail surrounded by cotton-wood ; three miles further we passed by a spring on our right; 
in two miles crossed the divide кта the waters of the Cœur d’ Aléne prairie and the Cœur 
d' Aléne lake and river; and in six and а half miles we came to à limpid and abundant stream 
of water near the foot of a low divide, which was very heavily wooded. Ina mile and a half 
we struck the lake, passing down a rather steep hill; and continuing along its borders a mile 
and a half more, we crossed what is known as the Guts of the Lake, and made an excellent 
