Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/331

 several swamps & all the last part of the way we were so swarmed with musquetoes as to be scarcely able to see especially while crossing the Pourtniff which we did just before we came into camp. This is the widest river I have forded on horseback. It seemed as if the cows would run mad for the Musquetoes We could scarcely get them along. Mr McLeod met us and invited us to tea, which was a great favour. Thus blessings gather thick arround us. Fort Hall is situated on a flue of Snake River (called on maps, Lewis) about ten miles above the junction of the Pourtniff in its valley. We have been in the mountains so long find the scenery of this valley very greatful to the eye, with a large river on my right and one on my left hand skirted with timber. This is our first sight of Snake River at Fort Hall. We shall follow the course of it on the south side, for many days. We have passed many places where the soil is good and would be fertile if there were frequent rains. Usually the country is barren & would be a sandy desert were it not for the sage, which is its only production, in some places it grows in bunches to the height of a mans head & it is so stif and hard as to be much in the way of our animals & waggon Its common height is just above the ancles. Eve. We passed the American falls in Snake river just after dinner. The roar of the water is heard at a considerable distance. Our ride has not been very tedious today for us for we stoped during the greatest heat for rest & dinner. Now the Indians are not with us we shall expect to make two camps. I feel this to be a great mercy to us weak females for it was more than we could well endure to travel during the heat of the day without any refreshment.

6th Route very bad & difficult today, especially in the forenoon. We crossed a small stream, full of falls a short distance above where it emties into the Snake River. The only pass where we could cross was just on the edge of rocks above one of the falls. While the pack animals both ours & the Company's were crossing there was such a rush as to crowd two of our horses over the falls, both packed with dry meat. It was with great difficulty they were got out, one of them was in nearly an hour, much to his injury. Had a fine breeze during most of the day. Heat very great when otherwise. No game