256 GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 
running southeasterly, empties near latitude 48°. On its upper part there is a fine wide valley, 
but this narrows to a mile for ten miles above its mouth. The Okinakane rising ina long series 
of lakes north of the 49th parallel, runs nearly south for seventy miles within the Territory, 
joining the Columbia only eight miles above the Methow. It expands into several small marshy 
lakes in its course, and is generally slow and deep, but in one place, thirty three miles above 
its mouth, there is a fall of five feet. Its valley is fine, and the hills around well grassed, 
wooded, and arable. It receives a branch from the northwest near the falls, which runs through 
a rough, hilly country, and has some high falls near its mouth. The Ne-hoi-al-pit-quu is a 
stream which enters the Columbia opposite Fort Colville. It has a winding course of about 
seventy miles, and has numerous beautiful prairies in its valley, though the hills around, partially 
wooded, are also to a great extent arable. None of these rivers west of the Columbia are 
navigable except, perhaps, the Yakima, for part of its course at high water. Lake Chelan is 
doubtless navigable for many miles, but is cut off from the Columbia by the fall of its outlet. 
Between these rivers are spurs thrown out from the main chain of the Cascades, and extending 
towards and in some cases reaching the banks of the Columbia. Those between the Klikitat 
and Pisko tributary of the Yakima, and between the main Yakima and the Wenatshapam, or 
Pisquouse river, are considerable mountains; thus on the trail pursued by Lieutenant McClellan 
the rise from the Klikitat valley to the divide is 2,364 feet, and the descent to the Pisko 2,114 
feet, the elevation of the divide being 3,633 feet above the sea. The rise from the main Yakima 
to the divide separating it from the Wenatshapam is 4,048 feet, and the descent to the latter 
stream 4,264 feet; the summit level is 5,750 feet. Here the spur comes upon the river, making 
the trail difficult. The country north of the great western bend of the Columbia, from the 
mouth of the Spokane to the mouth of the Okinakane, is much more gentle and less elevated. 
Great injustice has been done this country by a want of patience and consideration on the 
part of gentlemen who have gone over it rapidly in the summer, and who have been over it but 
once; it is impossible to speak understandingly of a country unless one has had experience 
and opportunities of observation in countries somewhat similar. Now, the most intelligent 
voyageurs and best practical farmers in that country agree in opinion that there is a large 
quantity of arable land throughout this country, and very superior grazing. This is the opinion 
of intelligent Indian chiefs who have themselves made some progress in raising crops, and 
who are already great stock raisers. South of the Yakima is a low divide separating its waters 
from the waters flowing into the main Columbia in that portion of the river where, after leaving 
Fort Walla-Walla, it proceeds westward. This divide has a general parallel course to the 
Columbia, is nearly east and west some thirty miles from the main river, and between it and the 
Columbia is a large body of arableland, nearly every acre of it adapted to cereals. This country 
has not come under the observation of a scientific party with instruments in hand, but has been 
much travelled over by intelligent officers of the Indian service, and by the practical agri- 
culturists of the country. Little streams flowing from the southern side of this divide, which 
is well wooded all through, pass down to the main Columbia, watering the country and furnish- 
ing the means of supplying the farm and animals with water. 
On the several tributaries of the Yakima, particularly towards their upper waters, the land 
is rich and adapted to most of the crops, and so in the valley of the main Yakima itself. This 
valley has been denominated by some a desert and sage plain; sage does not occur in spots and 
small quantities, but much of the country is cultivable and productive. It may be observed 
that in regard to the whole of this central portion of the Territory it will be necessary to 
exercise care as to seed-time, and farmers will have a disadvantage over those west of the 
