238 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



of volcanic rocks, consisting of large masses of grayish or reddish 

 porphyritic lava, in blocks of from one to ten cubic feet in size, were 

 lying on the surface in disorderly piles. Beyond, to the eastward, the 

 lava heaps became still more numerous. 



They encamped on the southern branch of the Klamel river, which 

 is a beautiful, clear, and rapid stream, where they met with a small 

 spot of grass, the only one they had seen during the day. Two Indians 

 were discovered on the look-out from one of the lava heaps. Lieute- 

 nant Emmons, taking the guide with him, succeeded in preventing 

 their escape, and was enabled to approach them. They were at first 

 under great fear, but soon became reconciled, and sold two salmon 

 they had with them, which they had taken in the river with their fish- 

 spears. The salmon were of a whitish colour, and not at all delicate 

 to the taste ; their tails were worn off, and the fish otherwise bruised 

 and injured. Many salmon are caught in all these rivers. The Indians 

 were thought to be better-looking than those before seen about the 

 villages, and were quite naked, excepting the maro. After having 

 disposed of their fish, they were willing to sell their bows and 

 arrows, which they had hid in the grass. These which were all 

 neatly made, were bought for a knife. They then pointed out some 

 more of their tribe, who were seated on the side of a distant hill, and 

 were very desirous that they might be permitted to come into the 

 camp; but permission was refused them. Here our gentlemen saw 

 large bundles of rushes, made up in the form of a lashed-up hammock, 

 which the Indians are said to use instead of canoes. 



On the 2d, they travelled all day over a rolling prairie, without 

 water ; the low ground was incrusted with salts, notwithstanding which, 

 the land was better than that passed over the day before. Some 

 patches of spiraea and dogwood were met with, and a better growth 

 of grass; although it was still very scanty. 



Large herds of antelopes were seen, but none of them were killed ; 

 the hunters also recognised the mountain sheep, which are of a dark 

 colour, much larger than the common sheep, and having large horns. 

 Towards the afternoon they came to some holes containing water ; 

 and such had been the suffering of some of the animals from thirst, 

 that they rushed into them with their packs, and it required much 

 labour to extricate them, for which purpose it was necessary to use 

 the lasso. About midday they left the Klamet Valley, which is far 

 inferior to any portion of the country they had passed through ; and 

 as they crossed the hills which enclose it, they found that the out- 

 cropping rocks were composed of a dark green serpentine. They 

 encamped a little beyond the hills, and in the vicinity of their camp, 



