222 
SOUTHERN OREGON. 
these look more like orchards of fruit trees, planted by the hand of 
man, than groves of natural growth, and serve to relieve the eye from 
the yellow and scorched hue of the plains. The meanderings of the 
streams may be readily followed by the growth of trees on their banks 
as far as the eye can see. 
They were detained here by the straying of their animals, and did 
not succeed in getting off until the next day, when Turner gave them 
two of his horses, being willing to run the risk of recovering the lost 
ones in their stead. 
On the morning of the 9th, they had a severe frost. In the course 
of the day they passed Creole creek, and encamped on the Ignas 
The atmosphere during the day had become quite thick, owing to the 
smoke arising from the burning of the prairie. Here they prepared 
themselves fully for their journey, by trimming their horses’ hoofs 
and taking a full account of them. The soil was a red decomposer 
basalt, well adapted for grazing and wheat lands. 
On the IOth, the country was somewhat more hilly than the day 
previous, but still fine grazing land. During the day they crossed 
many small creeks. The rocks had now changed from a basalt to a 
whitish clayey sandstone. The soil also varied with it to a grayish- 
orown, instead of the former chocolate-brown colour, which was 
thought to be an indication of inferior quality. The country had an 
uninviting look, from the fact that it had lately been overrun by fire, 
which had destroyed ail the vegetation except the oak trees, which 
appeared not to be injured. 
On the 11th, after passing during the day Lake Guardipii, which is 
about five hundred yards long, they encamped on the Lumtumbuff 
river, which is a branch of the Willamette. This river is a deep and 
turbid stream, branching out in places like a lake, but being in general 
narrow and fordable. 
On the 12th, the route was across a parched-up prairie, some por¬ 
tions of which were composed of gravel and white sand, mixed with 
clay. The paths were very rough, owing to the soil, which was much 
cut up by the herds that had been driven through; and which, on be¬ 
coming hard, was exceedingly fatiguing to the horses. Bands of 
wolves were met with, and were heard throughout the night howling 
in various parts of the prairies. The cry of these animals is peculiar: 
one sets up a long shrill whine, three or four join in, and in a few mo¬ 
ments afterwards, the whole pack utter a sort of sharp yelp, which 
gives the idea of a half-laughing, half-crying chorus. The party had 
hitherto made from fifteen to twenty miles a day; and in travelling 
this day, the animals suffered a great deal from want of water. They 
