394 WALLAWALLA. 



is near the river Spokane, under the direction of Messrs. Eels and 

 Walker, sixty miles south of Colville. 



At Waiilaptu there are two houses, each of one story, built of adobes, 

 with mud roofs, to insure a cooler habitation in summer. There are 

 also a small saw-mill and some grist-mills at this place, moved by 

 water. All the premises look very comfortable. They have a fine 

 kitchen-garden, in which grow all the vegetables raised in the United 

 States, and several kinds of fine melons. The wheat, some of which 

 stood seven feet high, was in full head, and nearly ripe; Indian corn 

 was in tassel, and some of it measured nine feet in height. They will 

 reap this year about three hundred bushels of wheat, with a quantity 

 of corn and potatoes. The soil, in the vicinity of the small streams, is 

 a rich black loam, and very deep. The land fit for cultivation along 

 these streams does not, however, amount to more than ten thousand 

 acres. This quantity is susceptible of irrigation, and in consequence 

 can be made to yield most luxuriant crops. In many parts of it, a 

 natural irrigation seems to take place, owing to the numerous bends 

 of the small streams, which almost convert portions of the land into 

 islands. These streams take their rise in the Blue Mountains, about 

 forty miles east of Wallawalla, and are never known to fail. The 

 climate is very dry, as it seldom rains for seven or eight months in the 

 year. During the greater part of this time, the country, forty miles 

 north and south of this strip, has an arid appearance. There are 

 large herds of horses owned by the Indians, that find excellent pasturage 

 in the natural hay on its surface. 



There is a vast quantity and profusion of edible berries on the banks 

 of the streams above spoken of, consisting of the service-berry, two 

 kinds of currants, whortleberry, and wild gooseberries: these the 

 Indians gather in large quantities, for their winter supplies. 



At the time of Mr. Drayton's visit, there were at the mission only 

 fourteen Indians, including men, women, and children. Those who 

 usually reside here had gone to the Grande Ronde to trade, a distance 

 of twenty-five miles. 



The Grande Ronde is a plain or mountain prairie, surrounded by 

 high basaltic walls. This is called by the Indians, " Karpkarp," which 

 is translated into Balm of Gilead. Its direction from Wallawalla is 

 east-southeast, and the road to the United States passes through it. It 

 is fifteen miles long, by twelve wide; and is the place where the 

 Cayuse, Nez Perce, and Wallawalla Indians meet to trade with the 

 Snakes or Shoshones, for roots, skin lodges, elk and buffalo meat, in 

 exchange for salmon and horses. 



Mr. Drayton met with an old Indian at Waiilaptu, who was pointed 



