428 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



however, some small valleys where the growth of grass is luxuriant, 

 the pines are larger, and the scenery assumed a park-like appearance. 



From the summit of one of the hills, a sketch of Mount Rainier, 

 and of the intervening range, was obtained. 



MOUNT RAINIER. 



On the top of the ridge they fell in with a number of Spipen 

 Indians, who were engaged in digging the cammass and other roots. 

 The latter were those of an umbelliferous plant, oblong, tuberous, and 

 in taste resembling a parsnep. The process used to prepare them for 

 bread, is to bake them in a well-heated oven of stones ; when they are 

 taken out they are dried, and then pounded between two stones till the 

 mass becomes as fine as corn meal, when it is kneaded into cakes and 

 dried in the sun. These roots are the principal vegetable food of the 

 Indians throughout Middle Oregon. The women are frequently seen, 

 to the number of twenty or thirty, with baskets suspended from the 

 neck, and a pointed stick in their hand, digging these roots, and so 

 intently engaged in the search for them, as to pay no attention what- 

 ever to a passer-by. When these roots are properly dried, they are 

 stored away for the winter's consumption. This day they made only 

 fifteen miles, in a northern direction. 



On the 2d of June, they reached the Yakima, after having crossed a 

 small stream. The Yakima was too deep for the horses to ford with 

 their packs, and they now for the first time used their balsas of India- 

 rubber cloth, which were found to answer the purpose of floating the 

 'oads across the stream. 



This river is one hundred and fifty feet wide, and pursues an east- 

 southeast course, with a velocity of more than four miles an hour. 

 At this place were found twenty migrating Indians, who have their 

 permanent residence on the banks lower down. 



The chief, Kamaiyah, was the son-in-law of old Tidias, and one of 

 the most handsome and perfectly-formed Indians they had met with. 

 He was found to be gruff and surly in his manners, which was 

 thought to be owing to his wish to appear dignified. These Indians 

 were living in temporary huts, consisting of mats spread on poles. 

 Among them was seen quite a pretty girl, dressed in a shirt and 

 trousers, with moccasins of skin verv much ornamented with fringe 



