The vapor bath of which we have made mention is in frequent use among the Nez Perce tribe, chiefly for cleanliness.  Their sweating houses, as they call them, are small and close lodges, and the vapor is produced by water poured slowly upon red-hot stones.

On passing the limits of O-push-y-e-cut’s domains, the travellers left the elevated table-lands, and all the wild and romantic scenery which has just been described.  They now traversed a gently undulating country, of such fertility that it excited the rapturous admiration of two of the captain’s followers, a Kentuckian and a native of Ohio.  They declared that it surpassed any land that they had ever seen, and often exclaimed what a delight it would be just to run a plough through such a rich and teeming soil, and see it open its bountiful promise before the share.

Another halt and sojourn of a night was made at the village of a chief named He-mim-el-pilp, where similar ceremonies were observed and hospitality experienced, as at the preceding villages.  They now pursued a west-southwest course through a beautiful and fertile region, better wooded than most of the tracts through which they had passed.  In their progress, they met with several bands of Nez Perces, by whom they were invariably treated with the utmost kindness.  Within seven days after leaving the domain of He-mim-el-pilp, they struck the Columbia River at Fort Wallah-Wallah, where they arrived on the 4th of March, 1834.

34.

Fort Wallah-Wallah—­Its commander—­Indians in its neighborhood—­Exertions of Mr. Pambrune for their improvement—­Religion—­Code of laws—­Range of the Lower Nez Perces—­Camash, and other roots—­Nez—­Perce horses—­ Preparations for departure—­Refusal of supplies—­Departure—­ A laggard and glutton

Fort wallah-wallah is a trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, situated just above the mouth of the river by the same name, and on the left bank of the Columbia.  It is built of drift-wood, and calculated merely for defence against any attack of the natives.  At the time of Captain Bonneville’s arrival, the whole garrison mustered but six or eight men; and the post was under the superintendence of Mr. Pambrune, an agent of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The great post and fort of the company, forming the emporium of its trade on the Pacific, is Fort Vancouver; situated on the right bank of the Columbia, about sixty miles from the sea, and just above the mouth of the Wallamut.  To this point, the company removed its establishment from Astoria, in 1821, after its coalition with the Northwest Company.

Captain Bonneville and his comrades experienced a polite reception from Mr. Pambrune, the superintendent:  for, however hostile the members of the British Company may be to the enterprises of American traders, they have always manifested great courtesy and hospitality to the traders themselves.