424 W A L L A W A L L A. 



They returned the next day to Fort Wallawalla. 



There seems to be a peculiarity about the climate at Wallawalla, 

 not readily to be accounted for. It has been stated above that little 

 winter weather is experienced there, and that this mildness is owing 

 to the hot winds of the south, which sweep along from the extensive 

 sandy deserts existing in Upper California. This wind, or simoom, 

 during the summer, is held in great dread in this part of the country, 

 for it is of a burning character that is quite overpowering. Jt gene- 

 rally comes from the southwest. In consequence of this feature of the 

 climate, there is very little vegetation near the fort, not only on 

 account of the heat and dryness, but owing to the vast clouds of 

 drifting sand, which are frequently so great as to darken the sky. 

 In summer it blows here constantly, and at night the wind generally 

 amounts to a gale. Mr. Drayton represents his situation in the 

 northeast bastion of the fort as quite uncomfortable, from the fear of 

 its being blown down. 



The Indian mode of taking salmon was witnessed at this place. 

 It consists in the erection of a fish-weir of basket-work, supported 

 by poles. This is placed across the stream, in the form of an acute 

 angle. This barrier dams the water sufficiently to create a little 

 fall. The salmon swim up the river at night, and when they reach 

 the barrier, they jump over the low side, which is down stream, 

 but are unable to leap the higher one. A little before daylight, 

 the Indians spread their nets, carefully avoiding to disturb the fish 

 about the weir, and take all those that have been ensnared. These 

 usually amount to about twenty-five. 



Small parties of the Cay use, Wallawallas, and Nez Perces, were 

 now returning from the Grand Ronde. They occupied about thirty 

 lodges, made of poles, mats, and skins, bought from the Shoshones. 

 The wood-cut of these Indians' lodges will be found at the end of 

 the chapter. 



During the week, the Columbia had fallen ten feet. It is here 

 one thousand yards wide, and the altitude of Fort Wallawalla above 

 the sea is twelve hundred and eighty-six feet. 



The proximity of these Indians afforded Mr. Drayton an oppor- 

 tunity of observing them, and having an Indian boy with him, who 

 understood both their language and English, he had no difficulty in 

 communicating with them. 



The chief of the Wallawallas, who is called Puipui-Marmax (Yel- 

 low-Bird) and the Nez Perce chief Touwatui, (or Young Chief,) 

 seemed intelligent and friendly, but the white residents consider 



