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4.   Ft. Vancouver to  - - - - 
July 20th  The train proceeded last night to a plain about 2 1/2 miles from Vancouver & encamped to wait for and to collect stragglers. This plain is about one mile across and nearly circular in form, apparently due to the unfitness of the soil for the growth of trees (Spruce) which form a very sharply defined border around it. The vegetation on it consists of grasses principally with small flowering plants. I noticed in the woods Sicyos Oregana very common. It is said to be used by the Indians medicinally having active purgative properties  Also Berberis Aquifolium an ornamental plant the blue berries of which are eaten & used for preserves under the name of "Oregon grape" but Mr Gibbs who has eaten them says they cause vomiting  The Rubus [[?]] Occidentalis & spectabilis are common and their fruit with other berries forms the chief food of the natives at this season.  Obtained two Pine squirrels which were preserved a male & female.  The latter is more brightly colored beneath-Epilobium angustifolium Spirea betulifolia ? & Douglassi are the most striking flowers now in bloom.

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5
        Calissis Prairie

July 21st.  Proceeded 5 [[overwrite]] 1 [[/overwrite]] miles to the Calississ or 4th Prairie which is similar to the first in appearance but much larger being about 12 miles in circumference and nearly oval in form.  Passed the 2nd & 3rd prairies both smaller but otherwise similar.   The soil is a coarse gravel of diluvial formation with boulders of trap & granite scattered through them  Wheat grows well but not without careful cultivation on low swampy parts a coarse species of Carex is the chief  grass & is eaten readily by horses  Scattered Spruce trees dispersed in groups over the dry portions give the appearance of old cultivated grounds.  The Oenothera [[Apacoc?]] & O. guadrivulnera with some Solidagos & other Compositae are the only flowers I saw at this season.  Obtained a garter snake differing from those common at Vancouver being light brown with a pale yellow dorsal line and small yellow spots along the sides.
  The ground everywhere is excavated & turned up into hillocks by the Rodent called here Gopher but very rarely seen in daylight.
  Near the camp are several anthills from 2 to 4 ft high formed of spruce leaves, and paths lead from them in every direction.

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Transcription Notes:
Sicyos A[[?]] not verified Berberis Atquifolium a misspelling of Berberis Aquifolium @roswilkes Sicyos Oregana, cited in the Revisio Generum Plantarum. The Rubus entry lists three species, but I can't make out the first one. @raferrante