252 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



basaltic appearance, though some of them are of sandstone, and 

 contain fossils. As they ascended, they every moment expected to 

 be attacked, particularly at a steep and narrow path, where a single 

 horse has barely room to pass. The man Tibbats was one of a party 

 of fifteen, which was defeated here by the Indians, some three years 

 before. One of their number was killed, and two died of their 

 wounds on the Umpqua, whither they were obliged to retreat, 

 although they had forced the Indians back with great loss. He 

 showed great anxiety to take his revenge on them, but no oppor- 

 tunity offered, for the party had no other difficulty than scrambling 

 up a steep path, and through thick shrubbery, to reach the top. 

 Not an Indian was to be seen, although they had evidently made 

 some preparations to attack the party ; the ground had been but 

 recently occupied, some large trees felled across the path by burning, 

 and many other impediments placed to prevent the party from ad- 

 vancing. The whole mountain side was admirably adapted for an 

 ambuscade. 



At the summit of this range, they got their first view of the 

 Klamet Valley. It was beneath them, walled on both sides by high 

 basaltic hills, one beyond another. Mount Shaste, a high, snowy 

 peak, of a sugar-loaf form, which rose through the distant haze, bore 

 southward, forty-five miles distant. They descended on the south 

 side, and encamped on the banks of Otter creek, within a mile of the 

 Klamet river. 



This ridge divides the waters flowing to the north and south. The 

 soil seemed to change for the worse, becoming more sandy. 



In consequence of the illness of some of the party, it was concluded 

 to remain stationary on the 30th : the others made excursions around 

 the camp. The country they saw was a broad prairie valley, dotted 

 with oaks and pines, with a serpentine line of trees marking the 

 edges of the streams till they are lost in the distance. This valley 

 lies in the midst of hills, clothed with a forest of evergreens, and 

 through this the waters of the Klamet flow, passing beyond it, 

 through a narrow valley on the west. The most remarkable object 

 in this place is the isolated conical peak, which rises immediately 

 from the level plain to the height of one thousand feet, and is desti- 

 tute of trees, except on its summit. 



Near their camp was the remains of an Indian hut, which had 

 been constructed of bent sticks : this is represented at the end of the 

 chapter. 



