Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/65

History of the Counties of Oregon 59 The name is that of the beautiful Wallowa Lake and its outlet, the Wallowa River. The part of Oregon which comprises Wallowa County, in early days was isolated. It was far from the usually travelled route of early travellers, fur-traders, and immigrants. In October, 1805, and in May, 1806, the Lewis and Clark ex- pedition was at the mouth of the Clearwater River, which Lewis and Clark called the Kooskooskee. Lewiston, Idaho, is situated at the junction of the Clearwater with the Snake River. Wallowa County is a short distance south of Lewis- ton. Lewis and Clark's expedition did not go into what is now Wallowa County. In the winter of 181 1-2, Wilson Price Hunt and his party en route, overland, to Astoria, attempted to descend the Snake River. They started in canoes, but they were compelled to abandon their canoes, and proceed down the banks of the river, some of the party being on the east side, the others on the west side of the Snake River. The whole party nearly perished from hunger and other hardships. December 24, 181 1, the party left the Snake River and proceeded westward to the Columbia River, which they reached January 21, 18 12, at a point not far south of the Walla Walla River. On the way from the Snake River to the Columbia, the exact route of the party is not described nor can it definitely be ascertained, but undoubtedly it was through what is now Wallowa County, probably south of Wallowa Lake. The only river or stream between the Snake River and the Columbia which is men- tioned by name, except Walla Walla River, it is said "was called by the natives Eu-o-tal-la, or Umatalla." (Irving's "Astoria", Vol. 2, page 65). In 1833 an d 1834, Capt. Bonneville and his party were in what is now Wallowa County. He does not mention the name Wallowa. He does mention the Imnaha River, which he calls the Immahah, and the Way-lee-way which is the Nez Perce name of the Grande Ronde River. The eastern and southern parts of Wallowa County, in-