THE   COLUMBIA  RIVER
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proved to be what is here called a wild turkey, but resembling in nothing the wild turkeys of the south. Its plumage resembles that of a pheasant, it is not larger than a domestic hen, and its flesh, though very white, is dry and unpalatable; to us, however, it proved a great treat, as Ave were enabled to make one meal Avithout the usual accompaniments of sand and maggots. Our journey now would have been delightful, if we had anything like good food. We had plenty of grass of the best quality for our horses, delicious springs gushing from the rocks at every mile or two, and camping grounds which almost tempted us to stay at the risk of starvation.
August 5th. — Towards evening Ave began to see trees, principally pine, in the heights and in the distance, and I concluded that Ave were noAv approaching the Columbia River. I noAv pressed forward and before sundown emerged from the gorge of this stupendous ravine, and saw the mighty river fioAV-ing at least 500 feet beloAv us, though the banks rose considerably more than that height above us on each side. This river exceeds in grandeur any other perhaps in the world, not so much from its volume of Avater, although that is immense, as from the romantic Avildness of its stupendous and