•228 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



The party, in the mean time, had not been idle: preparations had 

 been made for the probable encounter with the Indians; cartridges 

 filled, and balls run, to the amount of fifty rounds apiece; the elk and 

 deer meat had been jerked over a slow fire, and put into packs for 

 transportation. 



The examination of the country surrounding the camp, engaged the 

 attention of the naturalists; many seeds and plants were collected. A 

 species of oak, new to our gentlemen, was first seen here : in its size 

 and appearance, it resembles that of the Willamette, excepting the 

 lobes of the leaves, which have a spire at their termination; and the 

 acorns, which are larger and more deeply set in the cup. A yellow 

 honeysuckle was also found on the banks of the river. 



The bed of the river is here composed of sandstone and clay-slate ; 

 a few hundred yards higher up the stream, the slate disappears, and 

 beyond it is found basalt. The basaltic hills are only half a mile 

 distant from the sandstone range which they had just passed. A few 

 nodules of limestone, similar to that found around Astoria, occur in 

 the shale. This rock contains a few fossils, and the sandstone exhibits 

 some indistinct impressions of vegetables, and seams of coal or lignite. 

 Mr. Dana, however, is of opinion that it is not probable a large deposit 

 of the last-named mineral will be found here. 



Many friendly Indians had come into the camp, who reported that 

 the hostile tribes were preparing to attack them and dispute their 

 passage. Some alarm seems to have existed among the trappers which 

 manifested itself in sullenness, accompanied with threats of leaving the 

 party. The ostensible reason for their dissatisfaction was that they 

 were not permitted to fire their pieces at all times about the camp. 

 Their real motive was the hope of retarding our party until it should be 

 overtaken by the Company's trappers under Michel, who were about 

 sixty in number. Boileau's fears had been so worked upon that he 

 determined to leave his wife at Fort Umpqua until Michel should pass 

 by. As usual, they suffered some detention in the morning from the 

 straying of their horses. 



Soon after leaving their camp, Corporal Hughes was taken with such 

 a violent chill, that he was unable to proceed. The doctor, with a 

 party under Mr. Colvocoressis, waited until the chill had subsided, and 

 then rejoined the party. 



Their guide now expressed to Lieutenant Emmons his desire to leave 

 the party, on the plea of solicitude for his little child, but, in reality, 

 because they were now about entering into the hostile country. After 

 some talk, however, his fears were quieted, and he consented to go on. 



During the day they passed over some basaltic hills, and then 



