466 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



the water, which cause rapids ; but there is no perceptible fall, and 

 the barges shoot them without difficulty. By the assistance of some 

 Indians, with two canoes, they crossed the river, and breakfasted on 

 the opposite side. These Indians had a lodge close by, and were in 

 number twelve, the greater part of whom were women and children. 

 Many of the latter, like others they had met with, were secured 

 upon boards, for which purpose, instead of cord, strips of skin 

 were used. These Indians reported that no salmon had been caught, 

 on which account they were living on a kind of carp. They had 

 with them a number of dogs, which are kept about their lodges : these 

 animals have but little to recommend them, for they are ill-shapen, 

 and of a dingy white colour. Of these dogs but little use is made, 

 for they are seldom employed in hunting, and the Indians never eat 

 them; neither are any of them killed, however large the litter of 

 puppies may be. They, however, cost nothing to keep, for they 

 are not fed, except with the offal of fish and birds, which accounts 

 for the wretchedness of their appearance. 



Lieutenant Johnson and Mr. Maxwell now determined to pay a 

 visit to the missionaries who were stationed at Chimikaine, distant 

 only half a day's ride. The rest of the party proceeded along the 

 banks of the Columbia to Fort Colville, a post of the Hudson Bay 

 Company, next in importance to Vancouver. While pursuing this 

 object, they lost their way, and were forced to encamp for the night 

 on the banks of the Columbia. 



On the 15th, at 4 p. m., they reached Fort Colville, after having 

 experienced some difficulty in riding their Indian horses up to the 

 gate ; for the wagons, poultry, pigs, cabins, and other objects of civili- 

 zation, excited no little alarm to their animals. 



In the mean time. Lieutenant Johnson, in company with Mr. Max- 

 well, proceeded up the Spokane, which, for the first ten miles, has 

 a course of east-southeast. The route passes through much fine 

 scenery, and on the southern side of the river the hills form terraces, 

 clothed with grass, and having a few pines growing upon them. 

 The pines yield an agreeable shade, and the banks offer numerous 

 beautiful sites for dwellings. 



The river itself is pretty : its waters are transparent, and it is 

 joined in its course by many bubbling brooks. To judge from the 

 number of sheds for drying salmon, it must abound with that fish. 

 The average width of the stream was about two hundred feet. 



After leaving the Spokane, they rode in a northeast direction, over 



