PUGET SOUND AND O K O N A G A N. 463 



The chief amusement of the Okonagan tribes of Indians in the 

 winter, and during the heat of the day in summer, when they are 

 prevented from taking salmon, is a game called by the voyageurs 

 " jeu de main," equivalent to our odd-and-even. 



The latitude, as given by Lieutenant Johnson's observations, place 

 Okonagan Fort in 48° 12' N. 



In the vicinity are found many wild fruits, consisting of goose- 

 berries, June-berries, and currants, which, at this time, 9th of June, 

 were beginning to be ripe. 



On the iOth, at noon, they crossed the Columbia to rejoin their 

 horses, where they had been left to graze, during the two days they 

 had remained at the fort. 



Lieutenant Johnson rode on some distance before the party, who 

 lost sight of him in roiinding a hill. His horse some time afterwards 

 came galloping towards them, without any saddle ; but thinking that 

 he had found a good camping-place, they continued on until sunset, 

 when they encamped at a small stream. Supper was prepared and 

 eaten, but Mr. Johnson did not appear. Becoming uneasy, the ser- 

 geant and Pierre Charles were sent in search of him, and signal-guns 

 were fired at short intervals till 11 p. m., when they returned without 

 any news of him. Early the next morning, a party again left the 

 camp in search of him, and at nine o'clock he was discovered fast 

 asleep, where he had been since the previous afternoon. 



The Columbia, in the neighbourhood of Okonagan is very winding 

 in its course, and is interrupted by dalles about five miles above. 



On the 11th, their route lay over the grassy prairie before spoken 

 of, in which they saw a few pools of water. In a salt marsh were 

 found some singular plants, and the crusted salt on the surface had 

 very much the appearance of hoar-frost. In other respects, the 

 route was uninteresting. Mount St. Pierre, before noticed, was 

 seen with its dome-like summit, and its height was estimated at 

 eighteen hundred feet. The distance made this day was fourteen 

 miles, and they encamped in an open plain, within three miles of 

 the Grande Coulee. 



On the 12th, they reached the Grande Coulee. The common 

 supposition relative to this remarkable geological phenomenon is, that 

 it has once been the bed of the Columbia, and this is what would 

 strike every one at its first view ; but, on consideration, it is seen that 

 it is much too wide, and that its entrance is nearly choked up by the 

 granite hills, that do not leave sufficient space for the river to flow 



