456 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



This river is one hundred and fifty feet wide, and pursues an east- 

 southeast course, with a velocity of more than four miles an hour. 

 At this place were found twenty migrating Indians, who have their 

 permanent residence on the banks lower down. 



The chief, Kamaiyah, was the son-in-law of old Tidias, and one 

 of the most handsome and perfectly-formed Indians they had met 

 with. He was found to be gruff and surly in his manners, which 

 was thought to be owing to his wish to appear dignified. These 

 Indians were living in temporary huts, consisting of mats spread on 

 poles. Among them was seen quite a pretty girl, dressed in a shirt 

 and trousers, with moccasins of skin very much ornamented with 

 fringe and beads. They had a number of fine horses, but could not 

 be induced to part with any of them. 



Lieutenant Johnson had now succeeded in purchasing venison and 

 salmon, and the party again had full allowance. 



On the 3d, they continued their route to the northward, over gra- 

 dually rising ground, and Lieutenant Johnson having succeeded in 

 purchasing three more horses, only three of the party were now 

 without them, so that the riding and tye system was not quite so 

 often resorted to as before. On this plain was seen a number of 

 curlews, some grouse, and a large species of hare. They encamped 

 again near the snow, and found their altitude greater than any yet 

 reached, the barometer standing at 24-750 in. — five thousand two 

 hundred and three feet. They had again reached the spruces and 

 lost the pine, which was only found on the hill-sides and plains. 



At 4 A. M. on the morning of the 4th of June, the thermometer 

 stood at 28°. They on that day continued their route up the moun- 

 tain and across its summit, which was here and thete covered with 

 patches of snow. I regret to record another accident to the instru- 

 ments. The sergeant, to whom the barometer was intrusted by 

 Lieutenant Johnson, in putting up the instrument this morning, 

 carelessly broke it; and thus ended the barometrical experiments in 

 the most interesting portion of the route. 



It is difficult to account for the scarcity of snow on a much higher 

 elevation than they had before reached, and under circumstances 

 which would appear to have warranted a contrary expectation. 

 Dr. Pickering was induced to believe that this change in the climate 

 is owing to the open nature of the surrounding country; its being 

 devoid of dense forests, with but a few scattered trees and no under- 



