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Show ' THE· JOUI~N.E:Y OUT, ' • I 4 with the intention of going across into Califorpi.a: hav.i~g ~bt~hwd · s rna ll supp I Y, and the bestdirection. S't. hey cou'l;d '.g. et. c on. ce•·ntng ,t h.e l'Oute, from Captain Payette, the prmc1p~l at the Fo1 t, (who nppeat-ed to be friendly, and much of a gentleman,) left . u~, to tr~vel through a country, a large portion of which n·o whtte .tnap had ever v1·s 1' t e:o d . The•v were to follow the Mulheu·r, a smu'H .. s.t·.r; eam 1 • that empties into Snake River twelve miles below the Fo•·t.- to Its source, and to pass over the California Mountains, to the head wd~ers of the Sacramento. Leavinrr Fort Boise, we traveled twelve miles1 and crossed . the Malheur, 0 where there are many Hot Springs, rising out of the bank of the stream. Twenty-th1·ee miles from the Malheur( we came to the Brule or Burnt River, and traveled up it to its source, t~aving Snake River entlrely. After striking the B.rule, the coun .. try gradually becomes less pan·en. \Ve found .on t!us stream, vast hills of Marble. The l'oad, th l'Ough these h tlls, 1s very crooked 1 and rotigh. From the head . of the Bl'Ule, we carne next to the valley of Powder River. Here, the aspect of the country chan~es r~'pi<ily. Leav'ing behind us the Sage and Sand, we find th~ htlls and Mountains covered with Pmes, and the 1 ittle valleys along the Creeks and Rivers, with excellent grass. · This valley is about ten miles \v'ide, and thirty miles Ion ~ ; a large portion of which has a good !)oil. It is encircled by hills and Mountains. Thirty-three miles from PO\vder River, we descend abruptly, some three thousand feet, into the Gtand Round; which is a level plain, about ten miles wide, and twenty miles long, surrounded by Mountains, and traversed by the Grand Round River, which comes in from the \Vest, runs nearly to the middle of the plain in several channels, joins with another branch, ben'rs ·away to the left and leaves the plain at its Northern extremity, th1:ough a low gap.Numerous small creeks and rivulets, run through all parts of the valley, from the surrounding l\1()untaius. There at·e some Balm trees on the River, and the Moun~nins are covered with Pine.Much ,the largest portion of the soil is very rich, and t~e whole is covered with a superior quality 9f g~as~. From the Gra~d Round we bore to the, left, and began the assen,t of the Blue ~o~ntains. It was long, but gradual. After r'euching the sunu11it,.'the road ,as generally passable, excepting s~:>rrie deep ravines, .. ~.hic'h were frequently very steep and rocky. A great portion-of. t.hese l'flount~ ins, are covered. with ·~ense fotests of lofty pine. , Tho~e pqrti'Ons ~hich are destitute· of iimber, are generally uov~red with' g<!>()d • WITH- ITS INCiDEN' TS. grass, and a conside.·able portion of the soil appears to be fit (or cultivation. On the third day, we left the Mountains and descended to the tJ matila or Utilla River, (gene rail y called in that country, the Utilla,) in the valley of Walawala. I:rorri the brow of the .Mountain, we had a fine "iew of the Cascade i·ange, fifty miles ~istant, for.ming the Western boundary of the .valley, stretching far to the North and South, with its. lofty peaks of eternal snow rising among the Clouds. The extent of the Wala:wala valley, is not kno\vn; but it is probably three hunch·ed miles long, with an: average width of a: bout fifty miles. Its course, fro'm and below the junction: of Snake ~iver, is nearly South; above, it bends away to the East. The Columbia River runs through it to the Dales; where it leaves the valley, and breaks through the Cascade Moun .. tains. This valley, is elevated above the Columbia; from fifty to five hundred feet, and is very uneven, dry, sandy; and entirely unfit for cultivation, except along the base of tlic Mountains, and immediately o'n the smaller streams which run tlUough it; the' principal of which, are the Walawala, Umatila, John Days, and De Chutes Rivers. Almost the whole of the valley, is c~vered with a superior quality of grass; which springs up iri the Fall, is green through the Winter and Spring, becomes cured in th'e latte1· part of Summer; and affords suffic'ient food for animals throughout the year. it grows in detached bunches; the blades are eight or nine inches long:; and it is generally considered almost a:s nutritious' as grain. With the exception: of a few Cotton Wood trees o'n some' bf the streams, there is no timbel' in the valley; but there is an abundance on. the neigh bo1·ing Moun:tains. Lead ha:s heen found on the U matila; but not, as yet, in any conside·rable quantities. This· is the country of the Walawala Indians. They own a great many horses; some of them ha \te as many as' two thou·sand-and they are the finest Indian horses we have ever seen~ ' .' . Thirty miles· frorri the Umatila, we came to Whitman's Mission; situated dn: the. W alawala River, t\venty-five' miles f1·orn its june.: tion witH the Columbia. The bttildings arc of unbur11t brick, and are neatiy arid comfortably finished. The Missionaries n~ve a Mill; ttnd cultivate a small piece of ground'. We were to1d by Mr. Spaulding, the Superintendent of the Mis·' sion on Clear Water, distant about one hundred and fifty miles: I from ' Dr. Whitman's, and on the No1·th side of Snake River; that, hi the neighborhood of his Mission, as fat as he was acquain·tecl 5 |