244 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



made up their minds to leave the party, determined to continue 

 with it. Lieutenant Emmons, in order to avoid any chance of an 

 encounter, now deviated from the direct road, and took the upper ford 

 or pass across the Umpqua, as he had every reason to believe that 

 the Indians had made preparations at the lower one to obstruct his 

 passage. About noon they reached the north fork of the Umpqua, 

 and succeeded in fording it without accident, though they expe- 

 rienced some difficulty in consequence of its rapid current and un- 

 even slippery bottom. Its breadth is about eighty yards, between 

 banks from fifteen to twenty feet high; its depth varies from one to 

 five feet. 



As many of the party were very unwell, Lieutenant Emmons 

 determined to halt, and the party encamped in a beautiful oak grove. 

 With the geological features of the country, the botany had also 

 changed; and this was also found to be the case with the animals. 

 A new shrub was met with, resembling the shrubby geranium of 

 Hawaii ; a beautiful laurel (Laurus ptolemii), with fragrant leaves ; 

 a Ceanothus, with beautiful, sky-blue flowers of delightful fragrance ; 

 a tobacco plant (Nicotiana), of fetid odour, with white flowers. For 

 further information, I must refer to the Botanical Report. 



On the Umpqua the first grisly bears were seen; here also the 

 white-tailed deer was lost sight of, and the black-tailed species met 

 with. Elk were seen in great numbers. 



Two Indians made their appearance on the opposite bank of the 

 river, and were desirous of coming into the camp ; but deeming that 

 their object was to spy out the strength of the party, it was thought 

 more prudent not to permit this; they were accordingly motioned 

 off. At this encampment, the horses fared badly ; for it became 

 necessary to fetter them to prevent them from being stolen, as these 

 Indians are notorious thieves. 



On the 20th, they resumed their route at an early hour, and passed, 

 during the day, through valleys and over narrow plains, that afforded 

 good pasturage for cattle. In the course of two hours, they reached 

 the south fork of the Umpqua, which is similar in character to the 

 northern fork. 



During this day's ride, they saw one grisly bear, and had an 

 encounter with another. On the first being perceived, chase was 

 given, but he escaped, and while pursuing him, the second was seen. 

 He was of large size, and approached within one hundred yards of the 

 party, in their usual slow pace. As they came nearer to him, he 



