414 W A L L A W A L L A. 



SOW in October and March, and harvest begins towards the end of 

 June. 



The climate is considered healthy; the atmosphere is dry, and 

 there are no dews. From May till November but little rain falls, 

 but in winter they have much rain and snow. The cold is seldom 

 great, although during the winter preceding our arrival the thermo- 

 meter fell to — 18° Fahrenheit. The greatest heat experienced in 

 summer Avas 100° in the shade; but, even after the hottest days, the 

 nights are cool and pleasant. 



At daylight, on the 3d July, the goods were all embarked. When 

 they reached the Chutes, they again made a portage of their goods 

 for a quarter of a mile, and in an hour and a half they were again on 

 their way. During very high water, the fall, whence the place takes 

 its name, is not visible, but when it is low, there is a fall of ten feet 

 perpendicular, that occupies nearly the whole breadth of the river. 

 It is impossible to pass this fall at low water; but when the river is 

 swollen, boats shoot it with ease and safety. The Columbia, from the 

 Chutes as far as John Day's river, is filled with rocks, which occasion 

 dangerous rapids. The boats were, in consequence, tracked for the 

 whole distance. 



After passing the Dalles, an entirely new description of country is 

 entered, for the line of woods extends no farther. The last tree stands 

 on the south side of the river, and is named Ogden's Tree on our map : 

 it is about six miles above the Dalles. The woods terminate at about 

 the same distance from the coast in all parts of this region south of 

 the parallel of 48° N. 



The country between these places is decidedly volcanic, and the 

 banks on either side of the river are rocky and high. In this part of 

 the country, it is very hot when there is no wind. Mr. Drayton had 

 no thermometer, and therefore was unable to ascertain the exact degree 

 of heat, but any metallic substance exposed to the sun for a short time 

 could not be grasped in the hand without pain, and the men were 

 almost exhausted with the heat. 



There are a number of villages in this neighbourhood, and among 

 them Wisham, mentioned in Irving's Astoria. This is situated on 

 the left bank of the river, and its proper name is Niculuita; Wisham 

 beins the name of the old chief, long since dead. There are now in 

 this village about forty good lodges, built of split boards, with a roof 

 of cedar bark, as before described. The Indians that live here seem 

 much superior to those of the other villages; they number four 



