422 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



not advance very rapidly over such ground, and Lieutenant Johnson 

 remarks, that although he was frequently desirous of shortening the 

 road, by taking what seemed a more direct course, he invariably found 

 himself obliged to return to the Indian trail. 



Daylight of the 24th brought with it its troubles : it was found that 

 the horses had strayed, — a disaster that the Indians took quite coolly, 

 hoping it would be the cause of their return. After a diligent search, 

 the horses were found in places where they had sought better food, 

 although it was scanty enough even there. 



During the day, the route led along the Smalocho, which runs 

 nearly east and west; and they only left its banks when they were 

 obliged to do so by various impassable barriers. This part of the 

 country is composed of conical hills, which are all thickly clothed 

 with pine trees of gigantic dimensions. They made nine miles this 

 day, without accident; but when they encamped, they had no food for 

 the horses except fern. The animals, in consequence, seemed much 

 overcome, as did also the Indians, who had travelled the whole day 

 with heavy loads. Lieutenant Johnson, by way of diverting the fa- 

 tigue of the latter, got up a shooting-match for a knife, the excitement 

 of which had the desired effect. 



The trees hereabout were chiefly the cotton-wood, maple, spruce, 

 pine, and elder, and some undergrowth of raspberry, the young shoots 

 of which the natives eat with great relish. 



On the 25th, they set out at an early hour, and found the travelling 

 less rough, so that they reached the foot of La Tete before noon, 

 having accomplished eleven miles. Lieutenant Johnson with the 

 sergeant ascended La Tete, obtained the bearings, from its summit, 

 of all the objects around, and made its height by barometer, two 

 thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight feet : its latitude was fixed 

 at 47° 08' 54" N. This mountain was entirely destitute of wood ; but, 

 having been burnt over, was found strewn with huge charred trunks, 

 and the whole ground covered with ashes. The inclination of its sides 

 was about fifty degrees. 



The country around seemed one continued series of hills, and like 

 La Tete had suffered from the fire. According to the natives, although 

 the wood on the mountains was destroyed many years since, yet it 

 was still observed to be on fire, in some places, about two years ago. 

 Most of the tops of the distant peaks had snow on them. To the east 

 was seen the appearance of two valleys, through which the two 

 branches of the Smalocho flow. 



On descending from La Tete, the river was to be crossed : this was 

 found too deep to be forded, and it consequently became necessary to 



