38 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



native character, in strong contrast with the conduct of the Polyne- 

 sians. I remarked also, that the eldest alone had the cartilage of the 

 nose pierced. 



The country, as throughout a great part of the Interior, did not 

 appear to become green at any season of the year, but presented a 

 hoary aspect, chiefly from the prevalence of Artemisias. The river 

 was observed to pass tlie minor transverse ridges, very much as the 

 Potomac and Susquehanna do the different ranges of the Alleghanies ; 

 and it pretty uniformly receives a tributary just prior to entering the 

 gaps. On the 7th, we arrived at the forks, where the Yakima seemed 

 to be fordable at this season; but we did not make the attempt, as we 

 were able to avail ourselves of a canoe belonging to a native family. 



We now proceeded up the banks of its tributary, the Spipen, the 

 valley gradually narrowing, and the hills beginning to assume a tint 

 of green ; while trees once more made their appearance. On the 

 8th, we fell in with our acquaintance, the chief who formerly sold us 

 horses, and he joined our party for the remainder of the journey. His 

 'town' consisted of only five or six cabins, so that his influence did 

 not appear to be widely extended. One of his sons came on horse- 

 back to meet us, and exhibited the same exuberance of spirits, we 

 often remark at home in young men who regard themselves a little 

 elevated by fortune. A few miles above we regained our former path. 



We had no difficulty in recrossing the mountain ridge, for the snow 

 was mostly gone from the summit, exposing unexpectedly an under- 

 growth of bushes. We were again interested in the virtues of the 

 native character, on the occasion of meeting a party carrying along a 

 dying man. 



The streams to the westward of the ridoe having now subsided, 

 we got on more rapidly than before. About twent}^ miles from the 

 coast a portion of the Nisqually tribe, had established themselves for 

 some temporary purpose. At our last encampment, before parting 

 with our natives, the idea of initiating them in gymnastic exercises 

 was somehow taken up, and they entered into the sport very willingly, 

 and with some spirit. 



On the 15th, we reached the Fort, and rejoined the Vincennes; 

 previously, however, being somewhat surprised at our horses going 

 into the salt water to drink; at a place, too, where small sharks, floun- 

 ders, and other marine fishes, are abundantly taken. The circum- 

 stance, however, was not regarded as unusual by the people on shore. 



