460 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



part of the day, on the high prairie-land, which was somewhat sandy, 

 and seemed likely to be unprofitable for any purpose, except sheep- 

 pasture. The guides were quite averse to entering on the high 

 prairie, alleging that it was destitute of water. 



Lieutenant Johnson, however, determined to pass on, after filling 

 the water-bags. Ascending two thousand feet, they reached the high 

 plain, where all were much delighted with the magnificent and 

 extensive view. The whole sweep of the prairie burst upon them, 

 uninterrupted by any shrub, but covered by a long grass, clothing 

 the eentle inclinations as well as the hollows. The view was deso- 

 late, nothing appearing to relieve the eye, but the very distant dark- 

 blue mountains to the northward and eastward, which pointed out 

 the course of the Columbia, or the snow-capped tops of Mount 

 Rainier and the ranges they had left. 



Over this prairie they had no track to guide them, but proceeded 

 on a course north-by-east, leaving a remarkable peak, to which the 

 name of Mount St. Pierre was given, to the east of their route. After 

 travelling three miles, they encamped, and were enabled to cook their 

 dinner with a hawk's nest and a few bushes growing out of a rock. 

 The Indians indulged themselves in a feast on the squab hawks: 

 these birds, from the quantities of down on their legs, have a droll 

 appearance. 



This plain — for so it must be called — was found tolerably level, 

 and, although it is covered with grass, yet there is but a slight tint 

 of green over the landscape. This grass is the natural hay before 

 spoken of, which seems to point out this for a grazing country, though 

 there is a large district destitute of water. 



On the 8th, at one o'clock, the party reached the banks of the Co- 

 lumbia, opposite to Okonagan, when a canoe was employed to take 

 them over. This post was in charge of a Canadian by the name of 

 Le Pratt; but the whole is now going into rapid decay, as it is only 

 retained as an entrepot for the deposit of supplies, &c., in connexion 

 with the posts in New Caledonia, as the northern part of this country 

 is called by the Hudson Bay Compaiay. Okonagan lies directly on 

 the route thither, and here they change from land to water transporta- 

 tion. Were it not for the convenience it affords, in this respect, it 

 would not be retained. It is inhabited by two Canadian white men 

 and numerous half-breed women and children, the men having gone 

 down the river with Mr. Ogden. It has, as usual at the posts, an 

 Indian encampment on the outside, but there is no Indian settlement 



