SOUTHERN OREGON. 229 



descended to another plain, where the soil was a fine loam. The 

 prairies were on fire across their path, and had without doubt been 

 lighted by the Indians to distress our party. The fires were by no 

 means violent, the flames passing but slowly over the ground, and being 

 only a few inches high. 



They encamped on Billey's Creek, named after a man who had been 

 killed here by a grisly bear, whilst passing through with a party belong- 

 ing to the Company. Large game was seen in abundance, and 

 Guardipii brought in an elk as large as a good-sized horse. 



On the 19th, Burrows and his squaw, who had the night before made 

 up their minds to leave the party, determined to continue with it. Lieu- 

 tenant Emmons, in order to avoid any chance of an encounter, now 

 deviated from the direct road, and took the upper ford or pass across 

 the Umpqua, as he had every reason to believe that the Indians had 

 made preparations at the lower one to obstruct his passage. About noon 

 they reached the north fork of the Umpqua, and succeeded in fording 

 it without accident, though they experienced some difficulty in conse- 

 quence of its rapid current and uneven slippery bottom. Its breadth is 

 about eighty yards, between banks from fifteen to twenty feet high ; its 

 depth varies from one to five feet. 



As many of the party were very unwell, Lieutenant Emmons deter- 

 mined to halt, and the party encamped in a beautiful oak grove. With 

 the geological features of the country, the botany had also changed ; 

 and this was also found to be the case with the animals. A new shrub 

 was met with, resembling the shrubby geranium of Hawaii. A beau- 

 tiful laurel (Laurus ptolemii,) with fragrant leaves; a Ceanothus, with 

 beautiful sky-blue flowers of delightful fragrance ; a tobacco plant 

 (Nicotiana), of fetid odour, with white flowers. For further information, 

 I must refer to the Botanical Report. 



On the Umpqua, the first grisly bears were seen ; here also the white- 

 tailed deer was lost sight of, and the black-tailed species met with. Elk 

 were seen in great numbers. 



Two Indians made their appearance on the opposite bank of the 

 river, and were desirous of coming into the camp; but deeming that 

 their object was to spy out the strength of the party, it was thought 

 more prudent not to permit this; they were accordingly motioned off. 

 At this encampment, the horses fared badly ; for it became necessary 

 to fetter them to prevent them from being stolen, as these Indians are 

 notorious thieves. 



On the 20th, they resumed their route at an early hour, and passed, 

 during the day, through valleys and over narrow plains, that afforded 

 good pasturage for cattle. In the course of two hours, they reached 

 u 



