240 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



toiled for three hours. The woods had been lately on fire here, and 

 many of the trees were still ignited. This fire had evidently been 

 lighted by the Indians for the purpose of causing the trees to fall 

 across the path ; they had also tied some of the branches together, and 

 interlocked others. Every thing was charred, and the more annoying 

 on that account, as our people were completely covered with charcoal 

 dust. From the summit of this ridge, a view is had of a confused 

 mass of abrupt ridges, between which lie small and secluded valleys. 

 The whole range is thickly wooded, with a variety of trees, among 

 which are the Pinus Lambertiana, (the first time it had been met 

 with,) Oaks, Arbutus, Prunus, Cornus, Yews, Dogwood, Hazel, Spi- 

 rsea, and Castanea. In different directions, dense smoke was seen 

 arising, denoting that these savages were on the watch for the party, 

 and making signals to muster their forces for an attack, if a favour- 



© O 7 



able opportunity should offer. 



The Pinus Lambertiana, of Douglass, was not found quite so large 

 as described by him. The cones, although fourteen inches long, 

 were small in circumference. 



They encamped on the plain of the Shaste country, which is 

 divided by the mountains which they had passed, from the Umpqua 

 Valley. The greatest elevation of those mountains, by the boiling 

 temperature of water, was one thousand seven hundred and fifty feet. 

 On reaching the encampment, it was discovered that Mr. Peale had 

 met with the loss of a considerable part of his luggage, in consequence 

 of the pack having been torn open by the bushes. It was therefore 

 resolved to remain half a day at this place, in order to send back and 

 seek for it, as well as to give the horses time to recover from the 

 fatigue they had undergone. The 23d was therefore passed quietly, 

 while a small division went back to search for the missing articles ; 

 but the only one which they succeeded in finding, was the camera 

 lucida. Some Indians were met with, who no doubt had picked up 

 all the rest of the missing articles ; but as their language was unin- 

 telligible to the guides, no questions could be asked, nor any informa- 

 tion received from them. 



The rocks in this neighbourhood are here and there intersected 

 with veins of quartz, and masses of that mineral are found strewn 

 over the whole country. The soil that lies above the talcose rock 

 is gravelly, and generally of a red brick-colour. Our botanists 

 collected, during the day, many seeds. In the way of plants, they 

 found the bulb which is used in California in the place of soap. 



