Their weary march that day had been forty-five miles, over a tract that might rival the deserts of Africa for aridity.

Indeed, the sufferings of the traveller on these American deserts is frequently more severe than in the wastes of Africa or Asia, from being less habituated and prepared to cope with them.
On the banks of this blessed stream the travellers encamped for the night; and so great had been their fatigue, and so sound and sweet was their sleep, that it was a late hour the next morning before they awoke.
They now recognized the little river to be the Umatilla, the same on the banks of which Mr.Hunt and his followers had arrived after their painful struggle through the Blue Mountains, and experienced such a kind relief in the friendly camp of the Sciatogas.
That range of Blue Mountains now extended in the distance before them; they were the same among which poor Michael Carriere had perished.

They form the southeast boundary of the great plains along the Columbia, dividing the waters of its main stream from those of Lewis River.

They are, in fact, a part of a long chain, which stretches over a great extent of country, and includes in its links the Snake River Mountains.
The day was somewhat advanced before the travellers left the shady banks of the Umatilla.

Their route gradually took them among the Blue Mountains, which assumed the most rugged aspect on a near approach.
They were shagged with dense and gloomy forests, and cut up by deep and precipitous ravines, extremely toilsome to the horses.