290 
FROM FORT OWEN TO WALLAH-WALLAH. 
The river here runs with a rapid current through a deep cation with perpendicular sides, and 
is upwards of three hundred yards wide, and as clear as spring water. 
For two days and a half we followed a narrow rocky trail down the course of Snake river. 
Sometimes coming upon rocky bluffs, rising perpendicularly from the water, we would wind our 
way in a zigzag course up their sides ; sometimes passing along a narrow path, with a wall of 
rock on one side, and a yawning precipice on the other. In crossing one of these narrow ledges, 
one of our pack-horses losing his foot-hold, rolled five hundred feet down a precipice and was 
instantly killed. He was only prevented from falling into the river by coming in contact with a 
large rock. 
As we proceeded down the river, the bluffs on either side became less steep and rocky, and 
gradually diminished in height. 
We passed several lodges of Indians on the banks of the river. 
About thirty-five miles below where we crossed it, our trail left the river and followed up the 
course of a small stream for six or eight miles. Leaving the stream, we ascended a succession 
of hills, and after travelling about twenty miles over a rolling, sandy country, (destitute of timber, 
but covered with a luxuriant growth of wild sage,) we descended a steep hill, at the foot of which 
ran the Two Canon river. This stream flows with a gentle current, and is about six yards wide 
and two feet deep. 
Crossing this river, our trail led us over a gently undulating country, and at the end of about 
twenty-five miles came upon a small creek, ten or twelve feet wide, called the “ Touchet.” 
Following along this creek about fifteen miles, we left it, and after a march of fifteen miles over 
a barren, sandy country, reached Fort Wallah-Wallah on the 27th of September. 
On our arrival at this place w r e were completely out of provisions, and for seven days previous 
had been living on half rations. I obtained from the Hudson’s Bay Company’s post a supply 
sufficient to last us to the Dalles. 
We remained at Wallah-Wallah two days to jerk some beef, and to allow our animals to 
recruit a little. We set out again, and taking the Columbia River trail, reached Fort Dalles on 
the 6th of October. Turning over the public animals and property in my charge to the quarter¬ 
master of that post, I took river transportation, and arrived at Fort Vancouver on the 10th of 
October. 
I estimate the distance from the St. Mary’s village to Fort Dalles, by the route which we 
travelled, to be between 450 and 500 miles. We were thirty-three days in accomplishing this 
journey. One-third of this time our route was over barren, rocky mountains, destitute of grass, 
which so weakened our horses and wore off their hoofs (they being unshod) that seventeen of 
them gave out, and being unable to travel, were abandoned. Besides these, we lost seven 
others—five of which strayed away or were stolen, and two were accidentally killed; one by 
falling down a precipice, and the other, getting entangled in his picket-rope, was choked to death. 
The distance from the Bitter Root river (across the mountains by the trail which we travelled) 
to the Clearwater I estimate to be about one hundred and thirty miles. 
The whole country from the St. Mary’s village to the Dalles, with the exception of a few 
valleys on the Bitter Root and between the Clearwater and Snake rivers, is a barren, sterile 
desert, without a single redeeming property to recommend it. 
In conclusion, I have to state that I received no instructions to make an exploration of this route; 
and as I took no interest in it, and kept no notes, I am unable to furnish you a more detailed 
report respecting it. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
R. MACFEELY, 
Second Lieutenant Fourth Infantry. 
Governor I. I. Stevens, 
In Charge of N. P. R. Exploration, Olympia , Washington Territory. 
