river. We trotted or galloped over fifty miles in the course of the day. The whole way presented evident remains of volcanic eruptions; piles and veins of lava were visible in all directions, and the rocks bore marks of having been in a state of fusion. The river, in its whole length, exhibits a succession of beaver ponds, emptying into each other by a narrow opening in each dike, thus forming a fall of between three and six feet. All these dikes are of stone, evidently the work of the water (the trappers call them the work of the beaver) and of the same character and substance as the stalactites found in some caverns."
We arrived late in the evening, within half a mile of the Fort, [Hall]' but being unable to see our way in the darkness, and not knowing where we were, we encamped for the night among the bushes, near the margin of a small brook and amid a cloud of mosquitoes.
Reverend and Dear Father Provincial:
Nearly four months had elapsed since our departure from Westport, when we met the main body of the nation to which we had been sent." Here we found the principal chiefs, four of whom had advanced a day's journey to welcome us. They met us at one of the sources of the Missouri called Beaver Head, where we had encamped
11 They do bear a close resemblance to beaver dams, but are built up of mineral deposit. They are easily visible from the railroad trains on the Oregon Short Line.
1z rort Hall was built by Nathaniel J. \vyeth in the year 1834 on the left bank of the Snake river, a little above the mouth of the Portneuf. Its history as a trading post is almost entirely associated with the Hudson Bay Company, to whom IvVyeth sold it in 1836. It was an exceedingly important point during the emigration period, and later became a military post of considerable note.
13 Led by Little Chief, Insula, afterward baptized Michael, "on account of his fidelity and courage."