382 WALLAWALLA. 



In the morning they were again on their route, and reached Little 

 river, from which the station of the Methodist Mission is three-fourths 

 of a mile distant. Here they were met by Mr. Perkins, who was 

 waiting for his letters and some packages of goods the brigade had 

 brought. Mr. Drayton accompanied Mr. Perkins to the mission, while 

 the brigade moved on towards the Dalles. Mr. Daniel Lee, the prin- 

 cipal of the mission, was found near the house, reaping his wheat. 



At this station there are three families, those of the Rev. Mr. Lee, 

 Mr. Perkins, and a lay member, who is a farmer. Their reception of 

 Mr. Drayton was exceedingly kind. 



The mission consists of two log and board houses, hewn, sawed, and 

 built by themselves, with a small barn, and several out-houses. The 

 buildings are situated on high ground, among scattered oaks, and 

 immediately in the rear is an extensive wood of oaks and pines, with 

 numerous sharp and jagged knolls and obelisk-looking pillars of con- 

 glomerate, interspersed among basaltic rocks : in front is an alluvial 

 plain, having a gradual descent towards the river, and extending to the 

 right and left. This contains about two thousand acres of good land, 

 well supplied with springs, with Little river, and other smaller streams 

 passing through it. The soil is made up of decomposed conglomerate, 

 and in places shows a deep black loam. Around this tract the land is 

 high, devoid of moisture, and covered with basaltic rocks or sand. 



They here raise wheat and potatoes by irrigation : the latter grow in 

 great perfection, and wheat yields twenty to thirty bushels to the acre. 

 They had just gathered a crop of two hundred bushels from land which 

 they irrigate by means of several fine streams near their houses. They 

 might raise much more, if they were disposed. The summers here are 

 much hotter than at Vancouver, and consequently drier ; the spring 

 rains cease here earlier, and the people harvest in June. 



There are only a few Indians residing near the mission during the 

 winter, and these are a very miserable set, who live in holes in the 

 ground, not unlike a clay oven, in order to keep warm. They are too 

 lazy to cut wood for their fires. The number that visit the Dalles 

 during the fishing season, is about fifteen hundred : these are from all 

 the country round, and are generally the outlawed of the different 

 villages. The missionaries complain much of the insolent behaviour 

 and of the thieving habits, both of the visiters, and those who reside 

 permanently at the falls. They are, therefore, very desirous of having 

 a few settlers near, that they may have some protection from this 

 annoyance, as they are frequently under apprehension that their lives 

 will be taken. 



It is not to be expected that the missionaries could be able to make 



