TOPOGRAPHY OF ROUTE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE COLUMBIA. 
round the northern shore, a course is made across the lake to its outlet, of west-northwest, sixteen 
miles ; thence about eight miles southwest to the Hudson’s Bay crossing, to which the distance on 
the river is twelve miles. From the crossing to the 49th parallel the river is very little known. 
Lieutenant Arnold made a reconnaissance of the falls over which it pours into the Columbia; but 
no regular examination of the rest of the river from St. Ignatius to its mouth has hitherto been 
made ; it is merely reported to be exceedingly rough and dangerous by the hardy mountaineers. 
With respect to the character of the river channels, and their capability of improvement from 
Fort Owen to Vancouver, it will be sufficient here to refer to the daring adventures of Dr. Suckley 
and his little party, during their attempt to go the whole length of those important rivers in a 
single canoe. When that gentleman arrived at Vancouver, some time after the main parties, his 
lugubrious and forlorn appearance, in the fragments of a dragoon overcoat and the remains of 
party-colored blanket leggins, sufficiently attested what patient endurance his gallant efforts 
must have cost him; but his own lively journal should be allowed to tell the rest. It is to be 
regretted that the hardships he experienced should have made it impossible to render a more 
perfect survey of the Columbia; but it is hoped that his narrative, besides its general interest, 
will redeem whatever errors may subsequently be observed in his sketch of that river as it will 
appear in the maps of the expedition. 
Leaving the crossing southwest by south, twenty-five miles across the easy summit between 
Clark’s fork and Spokane river, through open timber to the beautiful plain called Coeur d’Alene 
prairie, where are found large bands of domestic cattle in the finest condition, belonging to different 
trading posts—the best evidence of the ease with which such places might be settled. It is 
the largest of the mountain prairies on the main route, and probably the most superior in any 
point of view ; but having already indicated the general character of all these prairies, it will 
suffice to remark the decreasing elevation of the mountains in which it is embosomed, suggesting 
to the traveller that he is soon about to quit these scenes of nature’s greatness. Twenty miles 
southwest along the edge of Coeur d’Alene prairie reaches Spokane or Coeur d’Alene river— 
(the doubts about the application of such names will be examined and cleared up for the final 
map)—sixteen miles, two points north of west to the crossing of the Spokane; after which, 
having made a steep ascent of five or six hundred feet in a few miles, two points south of west, 
through alternate wood and prairie, the mountains, though still in view, are actually passed, and 
then is beheld the first expanse of the Great Plain of the Columbia. 
When the foregoing was written, the journal and map of Lieutenant Mullan’s comprehensive 
exploration from Fort Owen to Fort Hall was received. The great extent of mountains and 
prairies embraced in this work, which was performed during the winter months, would call for a 
more extended notice, if they were not of such exactly similar character to those already mentioned 
here, with the exception of the large sage plains near Fort Hall; indeed, if there be any difference 
in the likeness of the former features, it might be inferred, from the impulsive and enthusiastic 
reports of that officer, that they were rather superior than otherwise to anything of the kind 
occurring in this report. His journal of that route abounds with interesting details which must 
necessarily be excluded from a sketch simply intended to embrace the general features; for if 
everything were included, connected merely w r ilh the subject of topography, a large and readable 
volume might be filled. From near the point where the dividing ridge of the Bitter Root mount¬ 
ains joins the main Rocky range, the latter sweeps around to the southeast, making a reverse 
curve and enclosing a smaller mountain basin, open to the east, its waters forming the Jefferson 
fork of the Missouri, and containing an area of about ten thousand square miles, of which one 
thousand may be reckoned for open and favorable country hitherto observed, embracing many 
beautiful and extensive prairies, of which the largest is the Big Hole prairie, (the Hot Spring 
valley of Lewis and Clark,) sending numerous tributaries to Wisdom river, and having an 
immense extent of excellent pasture. 
In the exploration of this basin, Lieut. Mullan entered from the eastern fork of St. Mary’s 
