Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — Patrick Gass: April 30, 1806

here till about 11 o’clock to collect our horses, got two more;
and have now altogether twenty-three horses. We then set
out from Wal-la-wal-la river and nation; proceeded on about
fourteen miles through an extensive plain, when we struck a
branch of the Wal-la-wal-la river, and halted for the night.
We saw no animals or birds of any kind, except two pheas-
ants, one of which Capt. Clarke killed. The whole of this
plain is of a sandy surface and affords but thin grass, with
some branches of shrubs which resemble sage or hyssop. On
the south side of this branch the soil 1s of earth and rich, cov-
ered with grass, and very handsome. We are still accom-
panied by several of the natives.