222 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



these look more like orchards of fruit, trees, planted by the hand of 

 man, than groves of natural growth, and serve to relieve the eye from 

 the yellow and scorched hue of the plains. The meanderings of the 

 streams may be readily followed by the growth of trees on their banks 

 as far as the eye can see. 



They were detained here by the straying of their animals, and did 

 not succeed in getting off until the next day, when Turner gave them 

 two of his horses, being willing to run the risk of recovering the lost 

 ones in their stead. 



On the morning of the 9th, they had a severe frost. In the course 

 of the day they passed Creole creek, and encamped on the Ignas. 

 The atmosphere during the day had become quite thick, owing to the 

 smoke arising from the burning of the prairie. Here they prepared 

 themselves fully for their journey, by trimming their horses' hoofs, 

 and taking a full account of them. The soil was a red decomposed 

 basalt, well adapted for grazing and wheat lands. 



On the 10th, the country was somewhat more hilly than the day 

 previous, but still fine grazing land. During the day they crossed 

 many small creeks. The rocks had now changed from a basalt to a 

 whitish clayey sandstone. The soil also varied with it to a grayish- 

 brown, instead of the former chocolate-brown colour, which was 

 thought to be an indication of inferior quality. The country had an 

 uninviting look, from the fact that it had lately been overrun by fire, 

 which had destroyed all the vegetation except the oak trees, which 

 appeared not to be injured. 



On the 11th, after passing during the day Lake Guardipii, which is 

 about five hundred yards long, they encamped on the Lumtumbuff 

 river, which is a branch of the Willamette. This river is a deep and 

 turbid stream, branching out in places like a lake, but being in general 

 narrow and fordable. 



On the 12th, the route was across a parched-up prairie, some por- 

 tions of which were composed of gravel and white sand, mixed with 

 clay. The paths were very rough, owing to the soil, which was much 

 cut up by the herds that had been driven through; and which, on be- 

 coming hard, was exceedingly fatiguing to the horses. Bands of 

 wolves were met with, and were heard throughout the night howling 

 in various parts of the prairies. The cry of these animals is peculiar: 

 one sets up a long shrill whine, three or four join in, and in a few mo- 

 ments afterwards, the whole pack utter a sort of sharp yelp, which 

 gives the idea of a half-laughing, half-crying chorus. The party had 

 hitherto made from fifteen to twenty miles a day; and in travelling 

 this day, the animals suffered a great deal from want of water. They 



