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22  

Chikwass to

[[underlined]] Aug 11th [[/underlined]] Leaving the  prairie at 10 1/2 AM. we travelled north for about two hours through a tract of volcanic appearance formed of beds of lava of various ages very much cracked & broken up so that its general direction could not be ascertained. On the way we passed a small lake which at present appears to have no outlet, though there is a continual flow of water into it. Noticed on the way Ceanothus velutinus which is mentioned in Fl. of NA. as found on "Bear River" 
It is a very ornamental shrub and has a pleasant fragrance  After passing the 1st two miles the wood became very open & of large pine trees standing 20 or 30 yds apart, the ground below being covered with grass and small shrubs. The scene resembled ornamental forest grounds more than wild uncultivated woods About three miles before reaching camp we met with a series of caverns extending for a mile or more towards Mt. Adams & formed by the expansion of a lava current by steam in flowing over a river bed! A [[former?]] layer of basaltic lava formed the river bed and now partly forms the floor of this cavern-
Siliceous stalactites hang from the roof.
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23

Takk. prairie-
Encamped on the side of a brook which is said by the guide to be full of trout - though I looked for them in vain here - Noticed the oak again at this place & many of the pines were of very large size by no means equal to the spruces [[insertion]] 12 miles [[/insertion]] westward.
[[underlined]] Aug 12th [[/underlined]] Continued through the same level open woods for about three miles when we crossed a small river less stony bottom than the Cathlapootle, and soon after ascended a steep hill about 300 ft. high, & continuing along its side for 6 miles reached a large prairie lying to the SE of Mt Adams where we encamped. Noticed on the way a species of striped squirrel or marmot twice as large as the common kind, but could not get a good specimen. Found a species of Paeonia (Brownii ?) around this prairie with ripe seed; the root is used by the Indians here to give their horses long wind This prairie is about 10 miles in length and three wide containing a marshy lake and appears to be subject to overflowing 
Noticed several "Sand hill cranes" flying about here. At night the "Cayotes" made a doleful concert together with the wolves & owls -- (8 1/2 miles