402 WALLAWALLA. 



They chose the left or south bank of the Columbia for their descent. 

 Although the road on the north is the shortest, that on the south is 

 better. In passing along, trails are seen, many sometimes joining 

 together; which mark the routes of the Indians in their journeys 

 across the country. 



The next night they encamped within fifteen miles of John Day's 

 river. Near their encampment there were several lodges, containing 

 about forty Indians. At sunset, at the lodge of the old chief, a little 

 bell was rung, when they all repaired thither and joined in devotions, 

 the leader praying very loud. On the prayer being finished, they 

 commenced gambling, and kept it up all night; but when the sun 

 rose they again resorted to the lodge of the chief for prayer as before. 

 During the whole night they made a most tremendous noise, singing 

 and beating with sticks on splintered rails, which is the only substitute 

 they have for a musical instrument. 



The country had been easily travelled over until John Day's river 

 was approached, when the route became extremely rough and rocky. 

 On the banks of that river is a large village of about sixty Indians, 

 and they were ferried across the stream for a pound of tobacco, while 

 the horses swam over. 



These Indians were as great extortioners as the others, and de- 

 manded tobacco, powder, and ball. The latter articles they are most 

 desirous of obtaining, as the possession of them enables them to visit 

 their hunting-grounds at the foot of Mount Hood. 



The musquitoes were again found here in numbers ; but the upper 

 country seems to be entirely free from that annoyance. 



The country from this ferry to the Chutes river is a flat prairie, half 

 a mile wide, high enough not to be overflowed, and tolerably well 

 watered, overgrown with small grass. The party passed the Chutes 

 river before sunset, and encamped on its western bank. 



On the morning of the 24th, they reached the Dalles. Mr. Drayton 

 found this place entirely altered in its appearance, so much so that 

 he could hardly realize that it was the same. The water had fallen 

 during the twenty days of his absence about thirty feet, and was still 

 subsiding. The Columbia was now confined within high perpen- 

 dicular rocks ; the beach, where he had before stood, and been able 

 to touch the water with his hand as it passed through the confined 

 banks, was now far above it, and the river, instead of rushing through 

 its many canals, was now confined to a single one. It still, however, 

 rushed along with all the fury and violence of a mighty torrent, and 

 had yet as much as twenty-seven feet to fall to low water. In this 



