240 
SOUTHERN OREGON. 
raccoon, or wild-cat skin; these skins are generally whole, being left 
open at the tail end. 
A disease was observed among them which had the appearance of 
the leprosy, although the doctor did not recognise it as such, one of 
the six had wasted away to almost a skeleton from its effects. 
The old man was pointed out as the father-in-law of Michel La 
Framboise, who, as I have said before, has a wife in nearly every tribe. 
As to dress, they can scarcely be said to wear any except a mantle 
of deer or wolf skin. A few of them had deer-skins belted around 
their waists with a highly ornamented girdle. 
On the 3d, they continued their route up the plain, and soon reached 
its termination, after which they entered the forest on the slopes of the 
Shaste Range; the path was rendered very broken and uneven by the 
knolls of trachyte which were seen in every direction. On arriving 
at the top of the ridge, they had a magnificent view of the snowy 
peak of Shaste, with a nearer and intermediate one destitute of snow, 
with tall pines growing nearly to its top. Where the surface could be 
seen, it appeared as though it was covered with large blocks of rock: 
its conical shape proved its volcanic character, although no crater 
could be perceived. 
The Shaste Peak is a magnificent sight, rising as it does to a lofty 
height, its steep sides emerging from the mists which envelope its 
base, and seem to throw it off to an immense distance; its cleft sum¬ 
mit gave proof of its former active state as a volcano. The snow lies 
in patches on the sides and part of the peak of this mountain; but 
there is a great difference in the position of its snow-line from that of 
Mount Hood or St. Helen’s. Its height is said to be fourteen thousand 
three hundred and ninety feet, but Lieutenant Emmons thinks it is not 
so high. After passing this ridge, they soon met the head waters of 
the Sacramento, flowing to the southward, and their camp was pitched 
on the banks of another stream, that came from the Shaste Peak. 
Our party now had their prospects somewhat brightened, having 
passed safely through the country of the “Bad Indians.” I cannot 
but regret that they should at this time have been found in so hostile a 
state that it rendered it not only prudent, but necessary for the safety 
of the party, that all intercourse should be avoided, and consequently 
one of the objects of the Expedition, that of acquiring some knowledge 
of their actual condition, numbers, &c., was frustrated. 
On the 4th, they had fairly entered into the district of pines: again 
some of the Lambertiana were measured, and found to be eighteen 
feet in circumference, with cones sixteen inches long. 
They encamped on Destruction river, which runs from this moun- 
