SOUTHERN OREGON. 237 



Indian was to be seen, although they had evidently made some prepa- 

 rations to attack the party; the ground had been but recently occupied, 

 some large trees felled across the path by burning, and many other 

 impediments placed to prevent the party from advancing. The whole 

 mountain side was admirably adapted for an ambuscade. 



At the summit of this range, they got their first view of the Klamet 

 Valley. It was beneath them, walled on both sides by high basaltic 

 hills, one beyond another. Mount Shaste, a high, snowy peak, of a 

 sugar-loaf form, which rose through the distant haze, bore southward, 

 forty-five miles distant. They descended on the south side, and 

 encamped on the banks of Otter creek, within a mile of the Klamet 

 river. 



This ridge divides the waters flowing to the north and south. The 

 soil seemed to change for the worse, becoming more sandy. 



In consequence of the illness of some of the party, it was concluded 

 to remain stationary on the 30th : the others made excursions around 

 the camp. The country they saw was a broad prairie valley, dotted 

 with oaks and pines, with a serpentine line of trees marking the edges 

 of the streams till they are lost in the distance. This valley lies in the 

 midst of hills, clothed with a forest of evergreens, and through this the 

 waters of the Klamet flow, passing beyond it, through a narrow valley 

 on the west. The most remarkable object in this place is the isolated 

 conical peak, which rises immediately from the level plain to the 

 height of one thousand feet, and is destitute of trees, except on its 

 summit. 



Near their camp was the remains of an Indian hut, which had been 

 constructed of bent sticks: this is represented at the end of the chapter. 



Lieutenant Emmons, during the day, obtained both dip and intensity 

 observations. The thermometer, in the shade, rose to 100°. At 

 dawn the following morning, it was 32°. The hunters did not succeed 

 in procuring any game. 



On the 1st of October, they were enabled to take an early start. 

 The weather was, however, sultry, and the atmosphere again so smoky 

 as to shut out the Shaste Peak from view. In about two hours they 

 crossed the Klamet river, where it was about eighty yards wide, with 

 low banks, destitute of bushes. It was about four feet deep, with a 

 pebbly bottom. Both above and below the ford, there were rapids ; 

 the volume of water was about equal to that of the Umpqua. From the 

 appearance of its banks, it is subject to overflow. The prairie, after 

 crossing the river, became dry and barren, from which a solitary bute, 

 by which term these hills are known, occasionally rose up, from one 

 to five hundred feet high. These are peculiar to this country. Heaps 



