Numerous herds of deer were feeding on the abundant grass and young willows that grew along the river banks.
The meat, cut in small strips, or ribbons, was dried quickly in the hot sun.

This was called "jirked" meat.

Later on the word was corrupted into "jerked," and "jerked beef" is not unknown at the present day.

The verb "jerk" is corrupted from the Chilian word, charqui, meaning sun-dried meat; but it is not easy to explain how the Chilian word got into the Northwest.
As the season advanced, the party found many delicious wild fruits, such as currants, plums, raspberries, wild apples, and vast quantities of mulberries.

Wild turkeys were also found in large numbers, and the party had evidently entered a land of plenty.