442 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



burial. They bear the marks of savage labour, and are such an 

 undertaking as would have required the united efforts of a whole 

 tribe. 



The hole, which was dug directly in the centre, was about four 



feet in diameter. At a depth of about six feet was found a kind of 



pavement of round stones, laid on the subsoil of red gravel. No 



articles of any description were discovered in the 



_^'l!'^ "*l'!i'' mounds, which seemed to be grouped in fives, as in 



the figure annexed. Although there is a general re- 



-%," _ semblance among them, they evidently have been con- 



■'•'^'' ''' ' ' structed successively, and at intervals of several years. 

 I heard it suggested that they had been formed by water-courses, but 

 this I view as impossible, for they are situated on a level prairie, and 

 are at least a thousand in number. 



Observations for latitude and longitude were obtained here, but the 

 weather did not permit me to get angles on Mount Rainier, as I was 

 desirous of doing. The next day I parted with my friend, Mr. 

 Anderson, who desired to return to Nisqually, while we returned to 

 the falls. The ride was more disagreeable than we had before found 

 it, and I felt heartily glad to get back to the surveying parties. 



On the 12th, at seven o'clock, we began our surveying operations, 

 and after a hard day's work, joined Lieutenant Case's party, Avhen I 

 took charge of the whole. My force, which now consisted of seven 

 boats and their crews, was sufficiently strong to make rapid progress : 

 the putting up of signals, the triangulation, and soundings, were all 

 carried on at the same time. When we reached our encampment at 

 night, the rough draft of our day's work was completed. We con- 

 tinued thus employed until the i7th, when we reached the sliips, 

 having completed the surveys of all the numerous branches of this 

 sound : these all afford safe navigation for large vessels. The land is 

 low, and well covered with various kinds of trees, among which the 

 pine predominates : the other trees, consisting of spruces, oaks, 

 arbutus, alders, and great quantities of seringias in full blossom, 

 reminded me of our gardens at home. The perfume of the flowers 

 scented the air for a long distance around. Some of the seringia- 

 bushes were from twelve to fifteen feet high. 



The soil is in some places good, but in others it is quite light 

 and sandy. At the head of all the branches there are extensive mud- 

 flats, and some small patches of salt meadow. We did not meet 

 with many natives : those Avho inhabit this region were probably 



