CHAPTEE XL 



WALLA WALL A. 



1841. 



On my return to Nisqually, I found that news had been received 

 from the various surveying and exploring parties, all of which it was 

 reported were advancing rapidly in the execution of their duties. 

 The preparations for the scientific operations, which had been left 

 to the charge of Lieutenant Carr, were all completed, and the two 

 log houses had been built, in which we now began to perform the 

 pendulum experiments, and make astronomic observations. In these 

 we were engaged until the 4th of July. As the details of them will 

 be given in another place, I shall only advert here to the operations 

 which I had entrusted to Mr. Drayton, and which will form the 

 subject of the present chapter. 



It was stated in the preceding chapter, that through Mr. Ogden's 

 kindness, a passage was offered up the Columbia river as far as 

 Wallawalla. It had been my original intention to despatch a party 

 from the Peacock in this direction, to cross the Rocky Mountains 

 to the head waters of Yellowstone river ; and I had engaged a Mr. 

 Rogers to accompany it. Orders for the purpose had been pre- 

 pared, and left to be delivered to Captain Hudson when he should 

 arrive. 



I now, however, began to apprehend that some serious accident 

 had happened to that vessel, and I deemed it important to secure, 

 at all events, the examination of so interesting a part of this country, 

 particularly when it could be performed under such favourable cir- 

 cumstances as those offered by Mr. Ogden. Mr. Drayton was 

 therefore detached to make this jaunt, and to his industry and obser- 

 vation I am indebted for many of the facts about to be detailed. For 



