COLUMBIA RIVER. 359 



work of the mill, makes all the axes and hatchets used by the 

 trappers. The iron and steel are imported : the tools are manu- 

 factured at a much less price than those imported, and are more 

 to be depended on. A trapper's success, in fact, depends upon his 

 axe; and on this being lost or broken, he necessarily relinquishes 

 his labours, and returns unsuccessful. I was surprised at seeing 

 the celerity with which these axes are made. Fifty of them, it is 

 said, can be manufactured in a day, and twenty-five are accounted 

 an ordinary day's work. They are eagerly sought after by the 

 Indians, who are very particular that the axe should have a certain 

 shape, somewhat like a tomahawk. 



From the mill we crossed over to one of the sheep-walks on the 

 high prairie. The soil on this is a light sandy loam, which yields a 

 plentiful crop of columbine, lupine, and cammass flowers. Through- 

 out these upper prairies, in places, are seen growing pines of gigantic 

 dimensions and towering height, with their branches drooping to the 

 ground, with clumps of oaks, elders, and maple. These prairies have 

 such an air of being artificially kept in order, that they never cease 

 to create surprise, and it is difficult to believe that the hand of taste 

 and refinement has not been at work upon them. 



On our way back to Vancouver, we met the droves of horses and 

 cattle that they were driving to the upper prairie, on account of the 

 rise of the river, and the consequent flooding of the low grounds. 

 This was quite an interesting sight. A certain number of brood 

 mares are assigned to each horse; and the latter, it is said, is ever 

 mindful of his troop, and prevents them from straying. An old 

 Indian is employed to watch the horses, who keeps them constant 

 company, and is quite familiar with every individual of his charge. 

 We reached the fort just at sunset, after a ride of twenty miles. 

 It was such a sunset as reminded me of home : the air was mild, 

 and a pleasant breeze prevailed from the west; Mount Hood showed 

 itself in all its glory, rising out of the purple haze with which the 

 landscape was shrouded. 



On this night, (29th May,) the waters of the Columbia took a rise of 

 eighteen inches in ten hours, and apprehensions were entertained that 

 the crops on the lower prairie would be destroyed. The usiral time 

 for the highest rise of the river is in the middle of June, but the heat 

 of the spring and summer is supposed to have caused its rise sooner 

 this year. 



The crop of wheat of the last year had been partially destroyed, 



