PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 431 



of the water's edge, and in places so near as to leave but a ledge 

 for the horses to pass on, rendering it both laborious and dangerous. 

 These rocks are of granite, with veins of white marble, one of which 

 was several feet in width. Much of the rock resembles slate, capable 

 of being split into thin slabs, and of a dark gray colour. They met 

 with, during this day, many interesting plants, among which were a 

 cupressus tree and a cruciferous plant on the rocks, which an Indian 

 woman was gathering for food. To the taste they were extremely 

 bitter. Large quantities of wild gooseberries were also to be found 

 growing among the rocks, but proved quite insipid. 



They encamped on a small sand-flat on the Columbia, having made 

 about eleven miles. 



On the 6th, after travelling seven miles, they reached the banks of a 

 small stream, called by the Indians Entiyatecoom, but known by the 

 Canadian voyageurs as Point de Bois. Its course is nearly east and 

 west ; it is about one hundred feet wide, and was found at its mouth 

 too deep to ford. They, therefore, continued up the stream for about 

 a mile and a half, in hopes of finding a suitable place. While thus 

 ascending the stream, they were accosted by several Indians, who 

 motioned to them to return to the mouth of the river, whither a canoe 

 was now brought to transport their baggage, and an Indian was 

 despatched to a fishing station, who returned with salmon ready 

 cooked. 



The chief of the tribe of Okonagan Indians became much dissatis- 

 fied at the mode in which payment was offered him, and which he 

 refused to accept, and went unrewarded for his important services, to 

 the regret of many of the party. They again proceeded on their 

 journey, and came, in the course of a mile, to the camp of the natives 

 from whom the salmon had been sent them. They found them em- 

 ployed in salmon-fishing. Including men, women, and children, they 

 w 7 ere twenty in number. This is their permanent residence, but they 

 were then living in the usual summer huts, of mats, and near by were 

 the winter habitations, which consisted of two mounds, each of which 

 might contain about ten. Both of these were open towards the river, 

 the door being a round aperture, eighteen inches in diameter. These 

 Indians seem to have little to protect them from the cold of winter, 

 except the grass and their clothing, and do not appear to have any 

 fire in their winter habitation. The mystery about the cooked salmon 

 was now solved, for it appeared that, as soon as the fish are taken, 

 they are at once roasted, and then exposed to the sun to dry on a shed, 

 after which the meat is pounded and made into balls, which are stored 



