WALLAWALLA. 417 



some wood, and a species of small Cactus, filled with long white 

 spines, so hard and sharp that if trodden upon they will penetrate the 

 leather of a boot. 



On the 6th of July the brigade reached the foot of the Grand Rapids, 

 up which the boats were tracked. They afterwards passed along the 

 foot of Grand Rapid Hills, which are composed of basalt, old lava, and 

 scorise. These hills are steep on the river-side, and are fast crum- 

 bling away and falling into the stream. 



Eighteen miles below Wallawalla they passed the Windmill Rock, 

 about which are a number of curious basaltic peaks. On approach- 

 ing Wallawalla the scenery becomes grand : the country is broken 

 into volcanic peaks, forming many fantastic shapes, resembling figures 

 and colossal heads : many of them are seen either insulated or in 

 groups ; some of them are known under the name of the Nine-pins. 

 Through this pass of volcanic rocks the wind rushes with great 

 violence in summer, to supply the rarefied portion above. The 

 current had increased very considerably : it often became neces- 

 sary for the voyageurs to take a pipe, or in other words, a rest. 

 When the brigade was in sight from the fort, the Company's fl.ag 

 was hoisted. Before arriving there, and within a mile and a half of 

 it, the country becomes again flat, and rises very little above the river, 

 when the water is high. The ground is composed of pebbles and 

 drifting sand for several miles to the east and to the north, with little 

 or no soil, and nothing grows on it but a few spears of bunch-grass, 

 and wormwood. 



•A^ ' 





Jl^^si^J^^^^ 



FOBT WALLIWALLA 



The brigade reached the fort at sunset, when they were received 

 by Mr. M'Lean, who was in temporary charge of the post; and who 

 reported himself ready to proceed with his Indian wife and children 

 with Mr. Ogden ; and Mr. M'Kinley took charge of Fort Wallawalla. 



VOL. IV. 105 



