Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/46

bend my whole aim to an establishment for Trade &c.—and as our pressing necessities did not allow Time for Thought upon Thought. I set off to look out for a Place where we might build, that as soon as I saw the Property in safety @ a mode of living for the People I might be at liberty to seize every favourable opportunity of extending my knowledge of the Country. I had for a second iMr. Finan McDonald, who, however well intentioned was by far too unexperienced to act alone in the present unfavourable situation. I first examined the Lake, but found no Place that had Wood half sufficient, being only a thinly scattered sort of Hemlock @ after havg. passed the major part of the Day to no purpose, I was obliged to pitch upon a Spot at the Head of the River, on a Bank of abt. 240 ft. high, @ very steep @ not a drop of water but what must come up this Bank @ still we had nothing to build with other than straggling, stunted sort of Hemlock Trees,—not a Fir, nor Pine, within a Mile of us, @ those in a swamp across the River. We now got every Thing up the Hill @ pitched our Tents. As I was this Morng. searching for a Place to build on, we came to a wildHorsej that had been killed yesterday even, @ not knowing from whence to get a mouthful for the day, we took a little of the outside Meat, the inside we could not touch, as the Horse was not embowelled, @ a strong taint prevaded the whole Carcase, however it seemed tolerable Meat to us, @ we determined to try @ make a Meal of it; so soon as we arrived at the Camp, we boiled it, @ shared a small piece to/every Man who joyfully eat it, in hopes of its being portable in the Stomach, hunger is an excellent Sauce, we found the Taste tolerable good, @ 3 of the Men set off to dispute with the wolves the rest of the Carcase of the Horse, of which they brought abt. 100 lbs. But about 2 Hours after eating the Horse Meat we were seized with sickness of the Stomach, @ however much we wished to keep the Meat in our Bellies, were obliged to throw it up, @ thus ended our Hopes of being able to feed on wild Horses; tho' I attribute the Sickness we were