WALL A WALL A. 401 



at present, as it used to be ; but among the northern tribes it is very 

 strictly observed. 



By the 20th, Mr. Drayton had finished his drawing and sketching, 

 and obtained the necessary data for the map of the river and the 

 country surrounding this post, to which it was one of the most central, 

 and a commanding one for the protection of the country ; and as I 

 deemed that accurate information respecting it would be desirable, I 

 had directed his attention particularly to this business. The manner 

 in which this task was executed was very satisfactory, and merits my 

 warmest acknowledgments. 



In company with Mr. M'Kinley, Mr. Drayton rode to the great 

 forks of the Columbia. On reaching that place, they made their way 

 up the south branch, which is a large stream, and navigable for canoes 

 a short distance above the mouth of the Kooskooskee river. 



A remarkable phenomenon occurs on the junction of the waters of 

 the Columbia and Snake rivers : the Columbia from the north brings 

 a cold current, while the Snake from the south is warm. This diffe- 

 rence is perceived even at Wallawalla ; for the water passing along the 

 east shore near the fort is too warm to drink, and when they desire to 

 nave cool w T ater for drinking it is brought from the middle of the river 

 by a canoe. 



On the day that Mr. Drayton was to leave Wallawalla, four men, 

 who had accompanied Mr. Ogden's brigade as far as Okonagan, 

 returned to Wallawalla on their way back to Vancouver. They brought 

 no letters from Mr. Ogden. 



Mr. M'Kinley furnished Mr. Drayton with horses and Indian guides, 

 to return with the horses from the Dalles, and the party was increased 

 by the four voyageurs to the number of eight. By the kindness of Mr. 

 M'Kinley, and by the direction of Mr. Ogden, Mr. Drayton found him- 

 self fitted with good horses and every convenience requisite for the 

 journey, besides a quantity of provisions. The first night they encamped 

 near the Windmill Rock, having travelled a distance of thirteen miles. 



The voyageurs, however, were found destitute of almost every 

 thing, and spoke of their having been furnished with only a little 

 tobacco, to carry them from Okonagan to Vancouver. Knowing Mr. 

 Ogden's character as I do, I cannot believe that such was the fact. 

 There were some, however, found by Mr. Drayton destitute of every 

 thing, and he provided these with supper from his own stores, after 

 which they lay down on the ground to sleep, without any shelter 

 whatever. The general impression is, that these men are badly found 

 and cared for. 



vol. iv. 2I2 51 



