FROM CANTONMENT STEVENS TO FORT DALLES. 
531 
ninety yards wide, flowing, with an exceedingly rapid current, over a rocky, stony bed. It is 
bounded on each side by high, steep, rugged pine-clad mountains. Crossing the Kooskooskia, 
we began the ascent of another very steep mountain, the road, in addition, being obstructed by 
fallen timber. For eight miles we continued up and along steep mountains, thickly timbered 
with the spruce and hacmatack. At the end of this distance our course tended for six miles 
more to the north, leaving the river at a distance of four miles to our left—our road still winding 
along and up steep, high, and rugged mountains. At a distance of four miles we reached the 
top of the mountains, where we could see in every direction, and nothing met our view but one 
immense bed of pine-clad mountains. There was a ridge to our south and east that had a gene¬ 
ral direction of northeast and southwest, presenting a series of high jagged peaks, all destitute of 
timber. Having travelled a distance of twent} r -five miles, we encamped on the top of a high 
mountain, where we found a spring of water on the trail. We found no grass for our animals, 
and were compelled to tie the most of them without grass or water. We found growing along 
the sides and tops of the mountains to-day a great abundance of the bear-grass, which grows 
in large, long bunches, and retains its beautiful green color throughout the whole year. It is 
never eaten by the animals, however hungry they may be. We met to-day for the first time the 
mountain ash, growing in great abundance on these mountains in a bush form, and bearing a 
bright red berry. The tree is fifteen feet high. Towards evening our guide became embar¬ 
rassed as to the route, as we came to a point of the mountains where the road forked. We, 
however, took the right-hand trail, which proved to be the present one travelled. When Cap¬ 
tains Lewis and Clark crossed these mountains, they took the left-hand trail, which proved, by 
their description, as difficult, if not more so than the one we followed. At sunset, after a long 
and fatiguing march, we encamped on the summit of a high mountain, where we found a 
spring of clear pure water. The night was cold and windy, and on the following morning we 
experienced great difficulty in finding our animals ; most of them broke loose during the night, 
and strayed off many miles into the thick timber, while some took the back track to our camp of 
last night. We sent two men on the trail, who found ten, and, having searched through the 
dense forest, we found them all by 11 o’clock. They presented a meagre and gaunt appearance, 
and showed the effects of the want of grass. At 12 m. we resumed our march. When at a dis¬ 
tance of two miles we saw a deep hollow, with good grass. Here I sent one of the men to see 
if there was water. On his finding water, I concluded to encamp, although not midday, rather 
than travel with the prospect of finding no grass at our night camp. At this place we found an 
excellent spring of pure water, and an abundance of rich, green buffalo-grass. Towards sunset 
it began to rain heavily, with wind from east southeast, and continued with great force through¬ 
out the whole night. We had to-day a commanding view of the mountains, and took a sketch 
of the prominent ridge running northeast and southwest, it forming the great landmark of this 
region. 
September 26.—Commences mild and pleasant, having rained heavily throughout the night. 
The atmosphere this morning was pure and pleasant. We resumed our journey at an early hour, 
our animals having fared well on the rich grass of last night. Our trail during the earlier part of 
the day lay up the sides and over steep mountains; but towards noon the road became per¬ 
ceptibly better, the mountains lower, and the trail easier travelled. We still had a commanding 
view of the mountains during the whole day, some of the higher peaks of which were covered 
with snow, especially the peaks of the prominent range referred to yesterday. To-day the 
mountains towards the north appeared very high and rugged, while those to our front and south 
still retained their rugged features. At a distance of fourteen miles from our camp we reached 
a spring of clear water on a bare mountain, having a beautiful southern exposure. Here we 
observed fresh tracks of horses—probably the Indians hunting. Six miles farther we saw a 
small lake. It was midway of a high, bare, steep mountain, on the southern side. A short dis¬ 
tance farther we struck a small creek, running towards the north; and as we had travelled some 
