236 
SOUTHERN OREGON. 
where they encamped. The soil and country resembled that passed 
over the day before, and the woods were also oak and pine, but none 
of the Lambertiana. On the hills granite is seen to crop out, and in the 
distance was observed a singular isolated rock, which stands like a 
tower on the top of the ridge, rising above the surrounding forest with 
a bare and apparently unbroken surface. This peak, according to 
Lieutenant Emmons’s observations, is on the parallel of 42° N.; from 
its top an extensive country is overlooked, and as soon as the party 
came in sight of it a dense column of smoke arose, which was thought 
to be a signal made by the Klamet Indians, to the Shaste tribe, of the 
approach of our party.* 
On the way, they met an old squaw, with a large firebrand in her 
hand, with which she had just set the grass and bushes on fire; when 
surprised, she stood motionless, and appeared to be heedless of any 
thing that was passing around her. She was partly clothed in dressed 
deer-skins, one around her waist and another thrown over her shoulders, 
both fastened with a girdle, and having long fringes made of thongs of 
deer-skins braided; there were no other Indians in sight. The party 
encamped in a valley among the hills, in which were found many 
boulders of granite and syenite. 
The hostility of the Indians, and their having been successful in 
stealing the horses of former parties, induced Lieutenant Emmons to 
have an unusually strict guard kept during the night.f 
On the 29th, they set out to ascend the Boundary Mountains, which 
separate Mexico from the United States. It is a range of hills from 
twelve hundred to two thousand feet high, some of whose summits have 
a mural front; the features of all the ridges wear a 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 
opportunity offered, for the party had no other difficulty than scrambling 
up a steep path, and through thick shrubbery, to reach the top. Not an 
* This I have designated as Emmons’s Peak, after the officer who had charge of this 
party, as a memorial of the value of his services in conducting it safely through this hostile 
country. 
t The Klamet Indians took the pains to send word to Fort Umpqua, that they were pre 
pared to kill any whites who should attempt to pass through their country. 
