304 • T. C. Elliott Passed several lodges of Indians, from whom we obtained enough of salmon for breakfast. Stopped 31-2 hours in the middle of the day to rest and feed the horses. Friday, May i6th. Very warm, sultry weather. Resumed our journey past 5 o'clock. Left the river and struck into the country, and again fell on the Columbia at the little river^ below the Dalles at 6 o'clock in the evening, where we encamped. The object of taking this route was to avoid the Dalles and chutes, where numbers of Indians are collected at this season, and likewise for a better road, as that along the river is very hilly and stony.^ The road we took was very hilly and stony in places on leaving the river. Afterwards the road lay through a plain, and is good till nearly falling on the river, where it is for a considerable dis- tance woody and some very steep hills. On account of the heat, the horses are a good deal jaded. Saturday, May 17th. . Weather warm and sultry. The Columbia is so high it is impracticable to cross the horses at the entrance of the little river, the usual crossing place; we had, therefore, to seek another place which we found a few miles up the river, and, with a good deal of trouble got the horses across by 11 o'clock, when we moved on about 3 hours, when we encamped in consequence of engaging a guide to take us by another road, as that on the banks of the river, on account of the height of the water, is considered very difficult, if not impassable in places. The road we were to pursue by the interior is said not to occupy 1 Mill Creek.
2 The immigrants did the same in later years.----
