PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 44I 



place. Mr. Anderson, a clerk of the Company, whom I have men- 

 tioned as being in charge of the post, receives no more than one 

 hundred pounds for his superintendence. 



The observatory duties being completed, I set out, with Lieutenant 

 Budd and Mr. Eld, in three boats, to join the surveying party under 

 Lieutenant Case. Mr. Anderson accompanied us, on a visit to the 

 Shute's River Falls, where we intended to take horses, to ride to the 

 Bute Prairie, witli some men, to open several of the mounds, to dis- 

 cover their contents, if they had any. 



By the stupidity of the Indian guide, we took the wrong arm of the 

 sound, and did not discover our error until we reached its extreme 

 limit, where, as night overtook us, we were forced to encamp. 



The next day, however, we reached the falls, which were insig- 

 nificant, both in height and volume of water. This arm, which I 

 have called Budd's, is a fine harbour, nine miles in depth, and about 

 half a mile wide. 



After forming our encampment near by (which was surrounded by 

 Seringias in full blossom), and giving Lieutenant Budd and Mr. Eld 

 orders, Mr. Anderson and myself, with six men, set off for the Bute 

 Prairie, with shovels and picks. We reached the place about five 

 o'clock, through a rain which had wet the bushes and undergrowth 

 so much, that in passing through the Indian trails, we were com- 

 pletely drenched. These bushes consisted principally of Rubus and 

 Alder. On our route, we passed several beautiful and secluded 

 prairies, of excellent soil, and covered with many flowers. The 

 men began their digging early in the morning. These mounds 

 have been formed by scraping the surface earth together in a heap. 

 The soil, therefore, is very rich, and they have a rank growth of 

 vegetation on them. Much of this rich earth or mould must have 

 been brought from a distance. The regularity of their construction 

 and shape, as well as the space over which they are scattered, are 

 surprising. Although I could obtain no direct information respect- 

 ing them, I was one day told that the medicine-man gathered his 

 herbs from them, to make the decoctions with which he effects his 

 cures. 



Although all tradition concerning them may be lost, yet the custom 

 of these medicine-men may have survived, and taking into considera- 

 tion the influence they have had and still have over the tribes, it is 

 possible that their predecessors might have had something to do with 

 the formation of these monuments. They certainly are not places of 



VOL. IV. Ill 



