496 



INDIAN TRIBES OF 



height. These falls are celebrated in Indian mythology. Among 

 other legends, it is related that a woman of gigantic size lived in that 

 part of the country, with four brothers of equal stature. She became 

 very desirous of obtaining some beaver's fat, but whether for a deli- 

 cacy or cosmetic is not known. At this time there was only one 

 beaver, and that of enormous dimensions, inhabiting the banks of the 

 Snake river. The brothers hunted him for a long time without suc- 

 cess : many places along the river, in which he could harbour, were 

 searched, but without finding his hiding-places. Finally, the animal 

 was surprised at the mouth of the Peluse, which was then a peaceful 

 stream, winding through an even channel. As the beaver retreated 

 up the stream, he was pursued and overtaken, two miles from its 

 mouth. At first they pinned him to the earth with their spears, but 

 by a violent effort he broke loose and fled. This struggle produced 

 the first rapids of the Peluse. A little farther up they again overtook 

 the beaver, who again made his escape, by producing the second 

 rapids ; and lastly, where he was secured, his dying struggles gave 

 rise to the great falls of the Aputaput. After killing him, and taking 

 his skin and fat, they cut up the body and threw the pieces in various 

 directions, from which has arisen the various tribes in the region ; 

 among them the Cayuse, the Nez Perce, Wallawalla, &c. The 

 Cayuse are said to have sprung from the heart, and became, in con- 

 sequence, a strong and thriving people, which they continue to be to 

 this day. 



The party remained but a few days at Wallawalla. Their measure- 

 ment made the width of the river at this point, two thousand seven 

 hundred and sixty feet, but in it there are many small islets. 



At Wallawalla, as before stated, there is no soil, even for a garden; 

 but a spot of about fifty acres, three miles from Wallawalla, on the 

 banks of the river Columbia, and called by the same name as the post, 

 has been for some time past cultivated. On this is grown wheat, corn, 

 peas, potatoes, &c. The garden embraces about two acres, where all 

 the smaller vegetables had been sowed, but it was entirely neglected, 

 and overgrown with weeds. The soil of this garden is a deep rich 

 brown loam. 



On the sandy plain about Wallawalla, as was to be expected, 

 there are but few plants to be found. A Salsola, Opuntia, Dalea, 

 Oberonia, and Rubiaceee, with several Compositse, were all that were 

 found. Hares were seen on the prairies in numbers : these are larger 



