1826, AUGUST. SPOKANE RIVER 207 



follow ; that they would come early in the morning. The Wolf, being 

 one of the principals on one side, told me he cannot go to-morrow, as the 

 peace is to be made, which could not be well done without his presence. 



Friday, l%ih. — Bustle and uproar ; towards evening peace was signed 

 and sealed by an exchange of presents ; and as there is to be a great feast 

 on the occasion, the Wolf is uncertain when he can be spared from his 

 office. As my time is very short, Mr. D. spoke to an Indian who is in the 

 habit of attaching himself to the establishment and going on journeys 

 with his people, to go with me — to which he agreed at once. So I will 

 start to-morrow early. 



Saturday, l^th.- — Detained tiU eight o'clock, although Mr. Dease had sent 

 out early for the horses, but being far ofi could not be caught sooner. I 

 had put up for my journey some dried meat of bufialo flesh, a httle sugar 

 and tea, and a small tin pot. My gun being left, out of order, in the lower 

 coimtry, Mr. Work kindly gave me the loan of a double-barrelled rifle- 

 pistol ; and going alone as I am, it is perhaps much better to have as little 

 as possible of tempting articles about me. I left this delightful place highly 

 gratified, having made a tolerable addition to my collection and received 

 every kindness from the hospitable people which they had in their power to 

 show. Beiag short of clothing, Mr. Dease gave me a pair of leather 

 trousers made of deerskin and a few pairs of shoes, which in my present 

 state were very acceptable. He provided me with three of his best horses, 

 one for my guide, one for carrying my little articles, and one for myself. 

 The only thing in the way of clothing except what was on my back, was one 

 shirt and one blanket, and in this shape I set out for Okanagan, distant 

 250 miles north-west of this place. It was my intention to have gone by 

 water, but was dissuaded by Mr. D., that part of the river at this season 

 being high and from numerous cascades and rapids perhaps dangerous. 

 Proceeded along the south banks of the Columbia, intending to cut the 

 angle between the Columbia and Spokane Rivers. My path very moun- 

 tainous and rugged, in many places covered with timber of the same sorts 

 as are commonly seen abundantly over all the country Nothing occurred 

 to-day, my guide (to whom I cannot speak a single syllable) seems to 

 conduct himself very well. Camped at sundown near a small spring, 

 surrounded by a thicket of birch and willow, at the foot of a high conical 

 hiU ten miles from the Spokane River. 



Sunday, 20th. — Shortly after two o'clock I had my horses saddled, and, 

 the grormd beiag very uneven and stony, drove them before me ; and 

 the moon shining dehghtfully clear, I found it by far more pleasant 

 travelling during the night than the day. Arrived on the Spokane River 

 nine miles from the Columbia, where there was a large number of Indian 

 lodges, being a fishing ground. After making a short stay and presenting 

 them with a little tobacco, four of them accompanied me two ndles further 

 down the river, where they assisted me in crossing the horses and carried 

 myself and aU my property across in their canoe. At ten o'clock left the 

 woody country and began my course through a trackless barren plain, not 

 a vestige of green herbage to be seen, soil gravel and sand. About one 

 o'clock I halted, to rest the horses and take some breakfast, opposite the 



