THE MONGOLIAN RACE. 



31 



Having procured two or three additional horses, we left the Spipen ; 

 and turning northward, proceeded over a high rolling country, arid 

 and barren, and for the most part destitute of trees. On the first 

 elevated ground we fell in with an encampment of about fifty natives, 

 chiefly women and children, engaged in procuring and drying biscuit- 

 root ; which was found to be a tolerable substitute for bread. 



On the following day, we looked down into a broad valley, which 

 proved to be that of the Upper Yakima, In descending, we were 

 met by some men on horseback, and we here experienced the incon- 

 venience of a multiplicity of languages. A native had joined us on 

 the Spipen, but although living so near, he was able to communicate 

 with these persons only through a third language, known to one of 

 the opposite party. This was then translated to Lachemere, and by 

 him through the traders' jargon to the Canadians ; and as the latter 

 spoke only Canadian French, the substance finally reached the Eng- 

 lish through the medium of five interpreters ! Our new friends con- 

 ducted us to a considerable encampment on the river-bank, where we 

 procured an acceptable supply of salmon. The pride of the village 

 was an aboriginal belle, and we were permitted a sight of herself and 

 finery : her dress was of buckskin, and entirely resembled the Oregon 

 female dress figured in the fourth volume of the Narrative. There 

 were no canoes, and as the stream was much swollen, recourse w^as 

 had to our portable balsas : and in the midst of ouir operations, an in- 

 genious attempt at theft failed of success. At this place we first met 

 with water-tight baskets. 



We had been led to anticipate "oppressive heat in the interior 

 plains," but on the following morning, June 3d, we were surprised 

 with a fall of pellets of snow. Leaving the low grounds, the latter 

 half of this day was taken up in the gradual ascent of the broad oppos- 

 ing ridge, on the summit of which we encamped : the barometer, 

 unexpectedly, indicating a greater elevation than we had hitherto 

 reached. 



On the morning of the 4th, we soon reached the eastern declivity, 

 and obtained a distant view of the Columbia River; or rather of its 

 position, for we could only see an enormous trench, winding through 

 the lower country. Indeed, the Columbia and its main branches are 

 everywhere sunk from one to two thousand feet below the general 

 level of the country, so that Interior Oregon is in reality a table-land. 



