JOURNAL. 
195 
ber, which is very much stripped of it^s bark, the na- 
lives making use of it both for food VxUd clothing. t 
number of the ladians visit us dully ; aiid the fcmakh 
in general have that leather covering' round their 
loins, which is somev/hai in the form of a truss. 
Sundaij ^tk, V/e had a fine moruiiif-^ v.' it h soul c 
ifeg ; about 10 o'clock we set out ; passed a beauti- 
ful prairie on the north side, which v/c could not sec 
for the fb^ as we went down ; proceeded on aboul^^ 
miles and came to our hunters^ camp. Thev bail 
kiiied 5 elk; so we halted^ sent out ibr thcv-picat and 
began to c]ry it. We are now at the head of tlic 
Coiumbia valley ; which is a fine valley about 70 
■rniles long, abounding- with roots of different kinds^ 
which the natives use for food, especially the "Wapto 
joots which they gather out of the ponds, Tlic Urn 
ber is mostly of the fir kindj with some cherry, do;^* 
wood, soft maple and ash ; aiKl a variety of sIu^u.jT 
%vhich bear fruit of a fine flavourj . that the natives 
make use of for food. 
Monday 7th, This was a pleasant day, but cloudy. 
Three hunters went on ahead again and the rest of 
the party remained drying meat to subsist on while 
we passed the Columbia plain^j as there is no game 
in that part of the country, according to . the accounts 
given by the natives, who are daily comihg down ; 
and my that those remaining in the plains are in a 
starving condition, ai}d will continue so until t'ne 
salmon begin to run, which is very soon expected. 
f Mi\ M'Kenzie also mentions that the western Indian 
ma-ke n:?e of the inner tegument of the hark of tree ;5 for 
food ; and that it is generally considered by the more inte- 
rior Indian;^! as a delicsicy, rather than an article of commoff 
food ; that on this and herbs they are used to sustain them- 
3ei?es on their journie?. He likewise stP-testhat of the jtrner 
riiid of tlie liomlock, taken off early in the^-ing tliey make 
a kind of cakes, which they cat with salmon oif, and of whicli 
jhey appear very fond. 
