PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 421 



This part of the country abounds with arbor-vita? trees, some of 

 which were found to be thirty feet in circumference at the height of 

 four feet from the ground, and upwards of one hundred feet high. 

 Notwithstanding the many difficulties encountered, they this day made 

 about twelve miles. 



On the morning of the 23d, just as they were about to leave their 

 camp, their men brought in a deer, which was soon skinned and packed 

 away on the horses. This was the first large game they had obtained, 

 having' previously got only a few grouse. 



They had now reached the Smalocho, which runs to the westward, 

 and is sixty-five feet wide : its depth was found to be four and a half 

 feet, which, as it was also rapid, was too great for the horses to ford 

 and carry their loads. The Indians now became serviceable to them. 

 Lieutenant Johnson had engaged several that were met on their way, 

 and they now amounted to thirteen, who appeared for a time lively 

 and contented. This, however, was but a forerunner of discontent, 

 and a refusal to go any farther; but with coaxing and threatening they 

 were induced to proceed. 



The road or way, after passing the river, was over a succession of 

 deep valleys and hills, so steep that it was difficult for a horse to get 

 up and over them with a load, and the fall of a horse became a com- 

 mon occurrence. They were all, however, recovered without injury, 

 although one of them fell upwards of one hundred feet ; yet in con- 

 sequence of his fall having been repeatedly broken by the shrubs and 

 trees, he reached the bottom without injury to himself, but with the 

 loss of his load, consisting of their camp utensils, &c, which were 

 swept off by the rapid current of the river. 



The route lay, for several days, through forests of spruce, and some 

 of the trees that had fallen measured two hundred and sixty-five feet 

 in length. One of these, at the height of ten feet from the roots, mea- 

 sured thirty-five feet in circumference ; and at the end which had been 

 broken off in its fall, it was found to be eighteen inches in diameter, 

 which would make the tree little short of three hundred feet when it 

 was growing. The stems of all these trees were clear of branches to 

 the height of one hundred and fifty feet from the ground, and perfectly 

 straight. In many cases it was impossible to see over the fallen trees, 

 even when on horseback, and on these, seedlings were growing luxu- 

 riantly, forcing their roots through the bark and over the body of the 

 trunk till they reached the ground. Many spruces were seen which 

 had grown in this way; and these, though of considerable size, still 

 retained the form of an arch, showing where the old tree had lain, and 

 under which they occasionally rode. As may be supposed, they could 



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