THE MONGOLIAN RACE. 



33 



We remained a day or two at the fort, and then reascended to 

 the grassy plain. Saline efflorescences were occasionally mixed 

 with the soil, yet were not found to affect sensibly the water of the 

 district. This was especially remarkable in the bottom of the " Grande 

 Coulee," where were ponds or small lakes, without outlets. 



We sometimes got a view of distant hills in the North, on the bor- 

 ders of the country, which is here called New Caledonia. We were 

 told that these saline efflorescences extend into New Caledonia; and 

 reference was also made to sudden variations in the weather in that 

 country, "the ground being one day covered with a foot of snow, 

 while on the following, the green grass would be visible." It is an 

 elevated region, shut out from the coast, by the Snowy range of moun- 

 tains : and from a box of minerals which was shown me at Okonagan, 

 its geological structure appears to be Primitive or Granitic* 



We saw no natives until we reached the mouth of the Spokane ; 

 and indeed, throughout our whole journey, natives were only met with 

 where I have specified ; a circumstance that will convey an idea of 

 the scarcity of inhabitants in Interior Oregon. 



Scattered pines make their appearance along the Columbia as low 

 down as the point where we first left the river; but after crossing the 

 Spokane, I found them more abundant, and not confined to the im- 

 mediate banks ; presenting, with the absence of undergrowth, natural 

 parks, and some unexpected analogy to the Australian woods. A 

 single lodge was seen on the margin of the Columbia ; and as" we ap- 

 proached CoLviLLE, two natives called to us from the opposite bank. 

 Colville is almost a village ; containing an outside row of buildings for 

 the accommodation of the Whites and half-breeds in the service of the 

 Company ; while the peculiar local circumstances at the head of the 

 'Kettle Falls,' permit the establishment of a farm. Our horses having 

 been brought up among the aboriginals, were quite unused to these 

 signs of civilization. 



We remained three days at the fort, and then proceeded south about 

 sixty miles, to Chimikaine, the recent establishment of Messrs. Eels 

 and Walker, of the American Mission. At a point about half way, we 



* The Taiikali, inhabiting the northern part of New Caledonia, are distinguished 

 annong American tribes, by the remarlvabie peculiarity of burning tlieir dead. This is 

 certainly an unexpected locality for a Hindoo custom ; and it may be worth inquiry, 

 whether any connexion can be established through the Siberian tribes. 



