CHAPTER XIII. 



INDIAN TRIBES OF THE INTERIOR OF OREGON. 



1841. 



Lieutenant Johnson having reached Fort Colville with his party, 

 it was determined that they should spend three days there, not only 

 to refresh their horses, but to repair the damages which their saddles 

 and packs had received. For these purposes Mr. M'Donald afforded 

 every facility in his power, besides supplying all their wants ; and re- 

 ceived in payment of the articles he furnished, Lieutenant Johnson's 

 orders upon the ship, to be collected through the authorities at Van- 

 couver. 



Fort Colville is situated on the east bank of the Columbia river, just 

 above the Kettle Falls. In this place, the river, pent up by the obstruc- 

 tions below, has formed a lateral channel, which nearly encircles a 

 level tract of land, containing about two hundred acres of rich soil. 

 Of this peninsula, about one hundred and thirty acres are in cultiva- 

 tion, and bear crops, composed chiefly of wheat, barley, and potatoes. 

 There are also raised small quantities of oats, Indian corn, and peas, 

 but garden vegetables have never succeeded well. Their failure, how- 

 ever, is to be attributed either to bad seeds or unskilful management ; 

 for the soil, which is a rich black loam, mixed with a portion of 

 gravel, seems capable of producing any thing. 



The whole peninsula has the appearance of having been deposited 

 by the river, and is believed to be the only spot of that character 

 formed in its whole course. 



There are two entrances to the fort, from one of which a road leads 

 to the flour-mill ; from the other there is a path extending along the 

 bank of the river. 



Fort Colville, like all the other posts of the Hudson Bay Company, 



(«3) 



