240 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



raccoon, or wild-cat skin ; these skins are generally whole, being left 

 open at the tail end. 



A disease was observed among them which had the appearance of 

 the leprosy, although the doctor did not recognise it as such, one of 

 the six had wasted away to almost a skeleton from its effects. 



The old man was pointed out as the father-in-law of Michel La 

 Framboise, who, as I have said before, has a wife in nearly every tribe. 



As to dress, they can scarcely be said to wear any except a mantle 

 of deer or wolf skin. A few of them had deer-skins belted around 

 their waists with a highly ornamented girdle. 



On the 3d, they continued their route up the plain, and soon reached 

 its termination, after which they entered the forest on the slopes of the 

 Shaste Range; the path was rendered very broken and uneven by the 

 knolls of trachyte which were seen in every direction. On arriving 

 at the top of the ridge, they had a magnificent view of the snowy 

 peak of Shaste, with a nearer and intermediate one destitute of snow, 

 with tall pines growing nearly to its top. Where the surface could be 

 seen, it appeared as though it was covered with large blocks of rock : 

 its conical shape proved its volcanic character, although no crater 

 could be perceived. 



The Shaste Peak is a magnificent sight, rising as it does to a lofty 

 height, its steep sides emerging from the mists which envelope its 

 base, and seem to throw it off to an immense distance; its cleft sum- 

 mit gave proof of its former active state as a volcano. The snow lies 

 in patches on the sides and part of the peak of this mountain; but 

 there is a great difference in the position of its snow-line from that of 

 Mount Hood or St. Helen's. Its height is said to be fourteen thousand 

 three hundred and ninety feet, but Lieutenant Emmons thinks it is not 

 so high. After passing this ridge, they soon met the head waters of 

 the Sacramento, flowing to the southward, and their camp was pitched 

 on the banks of another stream, that came from the Shaste Peak. 



Our party now had their prospects somewhat brightened, having 

 passed safely through the country of the " Bad Indians." I cannot 

 but regret that they should at this time have been found in so hostile a 

 state that it rendered it not only prudent, but necessary for the safety 

 of the party, that all intercourse should be avoided, and consequently 

 one of the objects of the Expedition, that of acquiring some knowledge 

 of their actual condition, numbers, &c, was frustrated. 



On the 4th, they had fairly entered into the district of pines : again 

 some of the Lambertiana were measured, and found to be eighteen 

 feet in circumference, with cones sixteen inches long. 



They encamped on Destruction river, which runs from this moun- 



