with sage, or more properly speaking, wormwood. Below this is a level stratum of rock, rivenoccasionally by frightful chasms. The whole plain rises as it approaches the river, and terminateswith high and broken cliffs, difficult to pass, and in many places so precipitous that it isimpossible,
for days together, to get down to the water's edge, to give drink to the horses. This obliges thetraveller occasionally to abandon the vicinity of the river, and make a wide sweep into theinterior.
It was now far in the month of July, and the party suffered extremely from sultry weatherand dusty
travelling. The flies and gnats, too, were extremely troublesome to the horses; especially whenkeeping along the edge of the river where it runs between low sand-banks. Whenever thetravellers
encamped in the afternoon, the horses retired to the gravelly shores and remained there, withoutattempting to feed until the cool of the evening. As to the travellers, they plunged into the clearand
cool current, to wash away the dust of the road and refresh themselves after the heat of the day.
The
nights were always cool and pleasant.
At one place where they encamped for some time, the river was nearly five hundred yardswide, and
studded with grassy islands, adorned with groves of willow and cotton-wood. Here the Indianswere
assembled in great numbers, and had barricaded the channels between the islands, to enable themto spear the salmon with greater facility. They were a timid race, and seemed unaccustomed tothe
sight of white men. Entering one of the huts, Captain Bonneville found the inhabitants justproceeding to cook a fine salmon. It is put into a pot filled with cold water, and hung over thefire.
The moment the water begins to boil, the fish is considered cooked.
Taking his seat unceremoniously, and lighting his pipe, the captain awaited the cookingof the
fish, intending to invite himself to the repast. The owner of the hut seemed to take his intrusionin
good part. While conversing with him the captain felt something move behind him, and turninground and removing a few skins and old buffalo robes, discovered a young girl, about fourteenyears
of age, crouched beneath, who directed her large black eyes full in his face, and continued togaze
in mute surprise and terror. The captain endeavored to dispel her fears, and drawing a brightribbon
from his pocket, attempted repeatedly to tie it round her neck. She jerked back at each attempt,uttering a sound very much like a snarl; nor could all the blandishments of the captain, albeit apleasant, good-looking, and somewhat gallant man, succeed in conquering the shyness of thesavage little
beauty. His attentions were now turned toward the parents, whom he presented with an awl and alittle tobacco, and having thus secured their good-will, continued to smoke his pipe, and watchthe
salmon. While thus seated near the threshold, an urchin of the family approached the door, butcatching a sight of the strange guest, ran off screaming with terror and ensconced himself behindthe
long straw at the back of the hut.
Desirous to dispel entirely this timidity, and to open a trade with the simple inhabitants ofthe hut,
who, he did not doubt, had furs somewhere concealed, the captain now drew forth that grand lurein the eyes of a savage, a pocket mirror. The sight of it was irresistible. After examining it for along
