390 WALLAWALLA. 



few boards, of native construction, placed as a kind of shed to protect 

 them from the weather. 



All along this river, from the Dalles up, there is not a piece of wood 

 growing, and except occasionally a drift log, there is nothing larger 

 than a splinter to be found. All the wood used for cooking is bought 

 from the Indians, who will follow the brigade for many miles with a 

 long pole or piece of a log, which they sell for a small piece of 

 tobacco. The Indians also brought for sale several hares, which were 

 large and of extremely fine flavour. 



The country continues to be, as far as can be seen on every side, 

 a barren and sterile waste, covered with a white sand mixed with 

 rounded and washed pebbles. All that it produces is a little grass, 

 some wood, and a species of small Cactus, filled with long white 

 spines, so hard and sharp that if trodden upon they will penetrate the 

 leather of a boot. 



On the 6th of July the brigade reached the foot of the Grand Rapids, 

 up which the boats were tracked. They afterwards passed along the 

 foot of Grand Rapid Hills, which are composed of basalt, old lava, and 

 scoriae. These hills are steep on the river side, and are fast crum- 

 bling away and falling into the stream. 



Eighteen miles below Wallawalla they passed the Windmill Rock, 

 about which are a number of curious basaltic peaks. On approaching 

 Wallawalla the scenery becomes grand : the country is broken into 

 volcanic peaks, forming many fantastic shapes, resembling figures and 

 colossal heads : many of them are seen either insulated or in groups ; 

 some of them are known under the name of the Nine-pins. Through this 

 pass of volcanic rocks the wind rushes with great violence in summer, 

 to supply the rarefied portion above. The current had increased very 

 considerably : it often became necessary for the voyageurs to take a 

 pipe, or in other words, a rest. When the brigade was in sight from 

 the fort, the Company's flag was hoisted. Before arriving there, and 

 within a mile and a half of it, the country becomes again flat, and 

 rises very little above the river, when the water is high. The ground 

 is composed of pebbles and drifting sand for several miles to the east 

 and to the north, with little or no soil, and nothing grows on it but a 

 few spears of bunch-grass, and wormwood. 



The brigade reached the fort at sunset, when they were received by 

 Mr. M'Lean, who was in temporary charge of the post: and who 

 reported himself ready to proceed with his Indian wife and children 

 with Mr. Ogden ; and Mr. M'Kinley took charge of Fort Wallawalla. 

 Fort Wallawalla is about two hundred feet square, and is built of 

 pickets, with a gallery or staging on the inside, whence the pickets 



