Wallah Wallah takes its rise. From their colour the Canadians called this chain Les Montagnes Bleues. The banks of both rivers at their junction are low, with a gentle rise on each side. The plains are covered with immense quantities of prickly pear, which was a source of great annoyance. Above Lewis River the Columbia runs in a northerly direction: below it, in a westerly. We remained here three days purchasing horses for our journey inland. Mr. David Stuart and a party proceeded in their canoes up the Columbia to the trading establishment which he had formed at Oakinagan river, which falls into the Columbia, from the northward, about two hundred and eighty miles above this place. Mr. Donald McKenzie and his party proceeded up Lewis River in order to establish a trading post on the upper parts of it, or in the country of the Snake Indians; his choice to be regulated according to the appearances of beaver in either place. The natives of this district are called the Pierced-nose Indians; but as French is the language in general use among traders in this country, owing to most part of their working men being Canadians, we commonly called them Les Nez Percés. They do not differ much from the Wallah Wallahs in their dress or language, but are not so
