August 22nd
After a restful Sabbath on which Mr. Spaulding was invited to preach in the Fort, they left for Walla Walla on the 22nd. One branch of the river was too deep to cross on horseback, but they found an Indian canoe made of rushes & willows. Narcissa and Eliza sat in the canoe and two Indians on horseback towed them over. Narcissa wrote “O, if Father Mother & the girls could have seen us now in our snug little bark floating on the water, we are favourites of the company no one else was privaledged with a ride on it.” The canoe was “simply bunches of rushes tied together & attached to a frame, made of few sticks of small willows.”
The wagon was left at the fort. “Perhaps you will wonder why we have left the wagon, having taken it so near through. Our animals were failing & the route in crossing the Blue Mountains is said to be impassable for it we have the prospect of obtaining one in exchange in Vancouver. If we do not we shall send for it when convenient & pack it over. We regret now to loose the use of it when we have been at so much labour in getting thus far. It is a useful article in this country.”
Because the horses and cattle were worn out, the party split up. Mr. McLeod, Marcus and Narcissa and Mr. Gray went ahead. The Spaldings the hired men and the Nez Perce Indians proceeded more slowly with the animals. ”We parted from them about three O’clock PM & came on as far as the Lone Tree.” (Actually called the Lone Pine. See link below.)
“We left our tent for Mrs. S expecting to be out only a few nights while she might be many. Mr. McLeod kindly offered his for my use & when I arrived in camp found it piched and in readiness for me. ….. Girls how do you think we manage to rest ourselves every noon having no houses to shelter us from the schorching heat of the noonday sun, or sofas on which to recline. Perhaps you think we always encamp in the shade of some thick wood. Such a sight I have not seen lo these many weeks. If we can find a few small willows or a single low tree, we think ourselves amply provided for. But often our camping places are in some open plain, & frequently a sand plain, even here is comfort and rest. My husband who is one of the best the world ever knew is always ready to provide a comfortable shade, with one of our saddle blankets, sprad upon some willows or sticks placed in the ground. Then our Saddle & pishmores, with the others placed upon the ground constitute our sofa. Here we recline & rest until dinner is ready. How do you think you would like this? “
http://www.bakerlib.org/…/die…/Lonepine%20Oregon%20Trail.pdf