W A L L A W A L L A. 421 



There are also a small saw-mill and some grist-mills at this place, 

 moved by water. All the premises look very comfortable. They 

 have a fine kitchen-garden, in which grow all the vegetables raised 

 in the United States, and several kinds of fine melons. The wheat, 

 some of which stood seven feet high, was in full head, and nearly 

 ripe ; Indian corn was in tassel, and some of it measured nine feet in 

 height. They will reap this year about three hundred bushels of 

 wheat, with a quantity of corn and potatoes. The soil, in the vicinity 

 of the small streams, is a rich black loam, and very deep. The land 

 fit for cultivation along these streams does not, however, amount to 

 more than ten thousand acres. This quantity is susceptible of irriga- 

 tion, and in consequence can be made to yield most luxuriant crops. 

 In many parts of it, a natural irrigation seems to take place, owing to 

 the numerous bends of the small streams, which almost convert 

 portions of the land into islands. These streams take their rise in the 

 Blue Mountains, about forty miles east of Wallawalla, and are never 

 known to fail. The climate is very dry, as it seldom rains for 

 seven or eight months in the year. During the greater part of this 

 time, the country, forty miles north and south of this strip, has an 

 arid appearance. There are large herds of horses owned by the 

 Indians, that find excellent pasturage in the natural hay on its 

 surface. 



There is a vast quantity and profusion of edible berries on the 

 banks of the streams above spoken of, consisting of the service-berry, 

 two kinds of currants, whortleberry, and wild gooseberries : these the 

 Indians gather in large quantities, for their winter supplies. 



At the time of Mr. Drayton's visit, there were at the mission 

 only fourteen Indians, including men, women, and children. Those 

 who usually reside here had gone to the Grande Ronde to trade, a 

 distance of twenty-five miles. 



The Grande Ronde is a plain or mountain prairie, surrounded by 

 high basaltic walls. This is called by the Indians, " Karpkarp," 

 which is translated into Balm of Gilead. Its direction from Walla- 

 walla is east-southeast, and the road to the United States passes 

 through it. It is fifteen miles long, by twelve wide ; and is the place 

 where the Cayuse, Nez Perce, and Wallawalla Indians meet to trade 

 with the Snakes or Shoshones, for roots, skin lodges, elk and buffalo 

 meat, in exchange for salmon and horses. 



Mr. Drayton met with an old Indian at Waiilaptu, who was 

 pointed out as the man who took the first flag that was ever seen in 



VOL. IV. 106 



