228 
SOUTHERN OREGON. 
The party, in the mean time, had not been idle: preparations had 
been made for the probable encounter with the Indians; cartridges 
filled, and balls run, to the amount of fifty rounds apiece; the elk and 
deer meat had been jerked over a slow fire, and put into packs for 
transportation. 
The examination of the country surrounding the camp, engaged the 
attention of the naturalists; many seeds and plants were collected. A 
species of oak, new to our gentlemen, was first seen here: in its size 
and appearance, it resembles that of the Willamette, excepting the 
lobes of the leaves, which have a spire at their termination; and the 
acorns, which are larger and more deeply set in the cup. A yellow 
honeysuckle was also found on the banks of the river. 
The bed of the river is here composed of sandstone and clay-slate; 
a few hundred yards higher up the stream, the slate disappears, and 
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 
