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Show r 174 J 168 filled with air we occupiccl ourselves in measuring the river, which is 1,786 feet in l;readth, with banks 200 feet hi.~h. VY_c were surprised, on our· arrival at the opposite ide, to find a bcautrful bastn of clear water, formed by the falling river, around ~· hich the rock" were w.hitPned by some saline incrustation. llerc the 1 ndtans had constructed wtcker dams, although 1 was informed tbcll the salmon do not ~lsccnd the river so far; and its character below would apparently render it impracticable. ']'he ascent of the steep hill side was rendered a little dillicult by a dense growth of shrubs and f1elds of eane; and there were frequent hidden crevices amonO' the rocks, where the water was heard rushing below; but we succecde<fin reaching the main stream, which, is ninO' from between trata of the trap rock in two principal branches, produced almost immediately a torrent, ~2 feet wide, and white with foam. It is a picturesque spot of singular beauty; over haded by bushes: from under which the torrent glances, tumbling into the white basin below where the clear water contrasted beau· tifully with the muddy stream of the river. Its outlet was covered with a rank ~rowth of canes, and a variety of unusual plants, and nettles, (urtica canabina,) which, before they were noticed, had set our hands and arms on fn·c. The temperature of the spring was 58°, while that of the river wns 51°. The perpendicular height of the place at which this stream issues is 45 feet abov the river, alld 152 feet below the summit of the precipice, making nearly 200 feet for the height of the wall. On the hill side here! was obtained the specimen desi~nated by the number 12 in the collection, .consisting principally of fragments of the shells of small crustacea, and which was probably formed by deposition from these springs proceeding from some lake or river in the highlands above. W c resumed our journey at noon, the day being hot and bright; nnd, after a march of 17 miles, encamped at sun et on the river, ncar several lodges of Snake Indians. Our encampment was about one mile below tf1e Fishing falls, a series of cataract. with very inclined plaucs, which arc probably so named because they fon~1 a banicr to the ascent of the salmon; and the grcnt fisheries from wluch the inhabitants of this barren rerrion almost entirely d rive a b . 0 su ststcncc commence at thi place. These ~ppcared to be unusually gay savages, fond of loud laun-htcr · and in their HJ>parent <Tood nature and mcrry character, struck mtel as 'b eing' entirely difi'crent frr-om the India~s we had been accu. torned to see. ~"'rom several who visited our camp tn the (~vening, we purchased, in exchange for goods, dried salmon. At.this season tl1cy arc not very fat, but we were easily pleased. The Ind1.ans made us compr chend, that when the salmon came up the river in the spnng, they ~re ~o a.bur~dant that they merely throw in their spears at random, cert:un of bnng~ng out a fish . . Thcs.e poor people are but slightly provided with ·winter clothing; t~Jerc 18 b.ut httlc game to furnish skins for the purpose; and of a little anrmal whtch. seemed to be the most numerous, it required 20 sl<ins to make a c~vcnr~g to the knees. llut they arc still a joyous talkative race, wh? grow f::~t and. becor.ne poor with the salmon, \·vhich at least never /all !hem-. the dned l><'tng used in the absence of the fresh. ·.;/ c nrc encamped ll~m,cdl.atcly on. the ri\'cr .utlllk, and with the flalmon jumping up out of ~he water, tlnd l.ndnns pacldlmg about in boats mndc of rut-bes, or lauglung around t~lc f1rcs, t.hc <.'amp to-night has quitf\ a liv('ly app('aranec. The nvcr at this place is more open than for some distance above; and, |
