446 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



kindness of Captain M'Niel and Mr. Anderson. Others were made 

 on board the ship, after a pattern lent us. One of the most important 

 pei'sons to obtain was a good guide, and hearing of one who resided 

 at the Cowlitz river, by the name of Pierre Charles, he was at once 

 sent for ; but I did not think it worth while to detain the party until 

 his arrival, as he could easily overtake it. Lieutenant Johnson, there- 

 fore, was directed to hurry his departure, and to set out, which he did 

 on the 19th May, at noon, and proceeded to the prairie, about two 

 miles distant, where the party encamped. 



There is little danger on these expeditions of having too few arti- 

 cles : the great difficulty is to avoid having too many. It turned out 

 as I had anticipated. The first night passed in their tent fully satis- 

 fied them of this, and taught them to dispense with all other bedding 

 save blankets. 



Mr. Anderson rode to the encampment before night, bringing the 

 news of the arrival of Pierre Charles at the fort ; whereupon Lieu- 

 tenant Johnson returned to make an agreement with him and his 

 companion. This was done, although, as is to be supposed, their 

 demands were exorbitant, in consequence of the belief that their 

 services were indispensable. 



Pierre Charles's companion was a young man, named Peter Ber- 

 cier, (a connexion of Plumondon,) who spoke English, and all the 

 languages of the country. 



On the morning of the 20th, they obtained an accession to their 

 horses, and set out on their route towards the mountains. Although 

 the possibility of crossing them was doubted, yet I felt satisfied if 

 exertion and perseverance could effect the object, the officer who had 

 charge of the party would succeed. This day, they made but five 

 miles; after which they encamped, at the recommendation of Pierre 

 Charles, in order that the horses might not be over-fatigued, and be 

 able to get good pasture and water. Here a number of natives visited 

 the camp. Pine trees were in large numbers; many of them up- 

 wards of one hundred and thirty feet in height. On the banks of 

 a small stream, near their camp, were found the yellow Ranunculus, 

 a species of Trillium in thickets with large leaves and small flowers, 

 Lupines, and some specimens of a cruciferous plant. 



On the 21st they made an early start, and in the forenoon crossed 

 the Puyallup, a stream about seventy feet wide; along which is a 

 fine meadow of some extent, with clumps of alder and willow : the 

 soil was of a black turfy nature. After leaving the meadow-land. 



