FROM MOUTH OF CLARK’g FORK TO WALLAH-WALLAH. 
285 
ground included between the walls. At this point we came to a fine lake about sixty feet broad, 
which had no visible outlet. Soon after entering the coulee, I descried a mountain bearing N. 9° 
E.; its top was conical and covered with snow. I thought it was one of the highest peaks of 
the Cascade range, but an inspection of my maps leads me to believe that it was one of the snow¬ 
capped peaks far above the 49th parallel. From this lake the trail had a gradual rise to the 
south. This coulee was twenty miles in length; its walls then passed out of sight; to the west 
they followed a ravine. The soil was generally sand, except near the walls, where it was made 
up of disintegrated rock. Contrary to my expectations, I found the view from the camp as broad 
and extensive to the east as on the Grand Plain ; but to the west it was intercepted by coulees. 
The line of march the succeeding day was very rocky for six miles, when we entered the second 
coulee in size. This coulee has the general appearance of the former. Travelling through 
this, we again entered the Hudson’s Bay trail near a high rocky mound. To remove any doubt 
that may remain on the minds of others in regard to the Grand Coulee, which is laid down on the 
maps about ninety miles in length, I will state that I obtained the best guide in the country. He 
was born in this country, and has travelled the route for the last fifteen years. I questioned him 
very closely in regard to the route travelled by Lieutenant Johnson, in the middle of June, 
1841. The coulee through which he travelled is not known as the Grand Coulee among the old 
residents. After leaving the coulee spoken of above, the trail has a gradual fall until it arrives 
at the bank of a stream. I then followed along this bank and encamped on the west side; this 
stream, which was ten feet wide and about two feet deep, was filled with large boulders, showing 
that it must have been a large and rapid stream. How far these rocks have been carried I am not 
able to state, but none were seen that would correspond to them in size. 
After travelling a few miles, l crossed this stream and passed a fine lake, about six miles in 
length and one in width; it was fringed with alder bushes and filled with wild fowl—ducks, 
geese, and white swan. Along the eastern bank of this lake I again commanded a view of the 
range along the western bank of the Columbia as far north as the Pisquouse river. This view, 
taken in connexion with the information I have obtained from my guide, leads me to believe that 
the country bounded on the east by my line of march, on the north and west by the Columbia, 
on ihe south by a line passing through the mouth of the Pisquouse river and the southern ex¬ 
tremity of the second coulee previously spoken of, is filled with coulees running in every direction, 
and ranging from one to fifteen miles in length. Leaving this lake, I travelled through drifting 
sand-hills for three or four miles; these sands continued westward as far as the eye could distin¬ 
guish. I then entered a rocky valley and continued until nightfall, when I found a brook affording 
sufficient water for the animals and cooking purposes. Since leaving the Columbia the trees 
have entirely disappeared ; the last seen were near the northern entrance on the eastern side: 
from this camp the trail passes over the plain, with a gradual fall. The gorge through which the 
river flows was in sight during the entire distance to this camp, and the plain before us and to 
the east. The approaches to the river are excellent from this point. I continued along the river 
to Snake river. The Yakima was very low, and, from the appearance at its mouth, I should not 
think it discharges more water than the Spokane. 
The banks along Snake river, near the mouth and up the stream for at least a mile, are not 
over thirty feet, and in many places not exceeding ten feet high. Crossing this stream, I moved 
to Fort Wallah-Wallah, about ten miles distant. Arriving at this fort after dark, and on a dark 
and stormy night, I took up quarters in the Hudson’s Bay buildings. Here, in accordance with 
your letter, I inspected the animals in charge of Mr. Pambrun; they were very weak and still 
unfit for service. I think they have regained sufficient strength to baffle the rigors of this season, 
provided the winter is not as severe as that of last year. The Indian horse spoken of in jmur 
letter had not been turned into the band. While at this post I succeeded in finding him ; he was 
then put with the other animals, and a descriptive list left with Mr. Pambrun. As the country 
between this point and the Dalles, and from thence to Olympia, via Vancouver, had been trav- 
