498 INDIAN TRIBES OF 



veiling for news in Oregon ; for so slow is it usually carried, that our 

 party were the first to bring the news of the arrival and operations 

 of the squadron in Oregon. This intelligence had not previously 

 reached Wallawalla, although it is considered to be on the direct post- 

 route to the interior, notwithstanding we had been in the country 

 nearly two months. The news of the murder of Mr. Black, in New 

 Caledonia, was nearly a year in reaching some points on the coast. 



This was one of the warmest days they had experienced, and the 

 thermometer under the shade of a canopy stood at 108°. At a short 

 distance from the place where they stopped was a small hut, composed 

 of a few branches and reeds, which was thought to be barely sufficient 

 to contain a sheep ; yet under it were four generations of human 

 beings, all females, seated in a posture, which, to whites, would have 

 been impracticable. They had just procured their subsistence for 

 the day, and their meal consisted of the berries of the dogwood. The 

 scene was not calculated to impress one very favourably with savage 

 life. The oldest of these had the cartilage of the nose pierced, but 

 the others had not ; leading to the conclusion that the practice had 

 been discontinued for some years in the nation, who still, however, 

 retain the name. 



The country exhibited little appearance of vegetation ; the herbage 

 was quite dried up, and from appearances was likely to continue so 

 throughout the season. The prevailing vegetation consisted of bushes 

 of wormwood, stinted in growth, and unyielding. 



After making thirty-three miles, they encamped among loose sand, 

 one hundred feet above the water of the river. Many rattlesnakes 

 were found in this vicinity. 



Owing to the quantities of musquitoes, combined with the fear of 

 snakes, the party obtained little or no rest, and were all glad to mount 

 their horses and proceed on their way. 



In the early part of the day, they arrived at the junction of the 

 Spipen with the Yakima : previous to this they crossed another 

 branch, coming in from the southwest; the waters of the latter were 

 very turbid, of a dark-brown colour, and it was conjectured that it 

 had its source at or near Mount Rainier. Along its banks was seen 

 a range of basaltic columns. The Yakima was crossed during the 

 day in canoes, the river not being yet fordable. 



The country, which had for some days exhibited the appearance of 

 the Tillandsia districts of Peru, had now begun to acquire a tinge of 

 green, and some scattered pine trees had become visible. Some small 



