SOUTHERN OREGON. 243 



beyond it is found basalt. The basaltic hills are only half a mile 

 distant from the sandstone range which they had just passed. A few 

 nodules of limestone, similar to that found around Astoria, occur in 

 the shale. This rock contains a few fossils, and the sandstone exhibits 

 some indistinct impressions of vegetables, and seams of coal or lignite. 

 Mr. Dana, however, is of opinion that it is not probable a large deposit 

 of the last-named mineral will be found here. 



Many friendly Indians had come into the camp, who reported that 

 the hostile tribes were preparing to attack them and dispute their 

 passage. Some alarm seems to have existed among the trappers, 

 which manifested itself in sullenness, accompanied with threats of 

 leaving the party. The ostensible reason for their dissatisfaction was 

 that they were not permitted to fire their pieces at all times about the 

 camp. Their real motive was the hope of retarding our party until it 

 should be overtaken by the Company's trappers under Michel, who 

 were about sixty in number. Boileau's fears had been so worked upon 

 that he determined to leave his wife at Fort Umpqua until Michel 

 should pass by. As usual, they suffered some detention in the 

 morning from the straying of their horses. 



Soon after leaving their camp, Corporal Hughes was taken with 

 such a violent chill, that he was unable to proceed. The doctor, 

 with a party under Mr. Colvocoressis, waited until the chill had 

 subsided, and then rejoined the party. 



Their guide now expressed to Lieutenant Emmons his desire to 

 leave the party, on the plea of solicitude for his little child, but, in 

 reality, because they were now about entering into the hostile country. 

 After some talk, however, his fears were quieted, and he consented to 

 go on. 



During the day they passed over some basaltic hills, and then 

 descended to another plain, where the soil was a fine loam. The 

 prairies were on fire across their path, and had without doubt been 

 lighted by the Indians to distress our party. The fires were by no 

 means violent, the flames passing but slowly over the ground, and 

 being only a few inches high. 



They encamped on Billey's Creek, named after a man who had 

 been killed here by a grisly bear, whilst passing through with a 

 party belonging to the Company. Large game was seen in abun- 

 dance, and Guardipii brought in an elk as large as a good-sized 

 horse. 



On the 19th, Burrows and his squaw, who had the night before 



