Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/62

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54 TV C. ELLIOTT

with them and they seemed thankful for the good I offered them of trading their superfluities for articles they stood much in need of. A very respectable old man sat down by me thankful to see us and smoke of our tobacco before he died, he often felt my shoes and legs gently as if to know whether I was like themselves. A chief of the countries below offered to accompany me. He understood the language of the people below, which I gladly accepted, and we embarked him, his wife and baggage. I paid them for the present they made us of two salmon, a few berries and roots. We took only part being sufficient for our wants. We had much trouble to get away, as they very much wished to detain us all night, and when we went they all stretched out their hands to heaven, wishing us a good voyage and a safe return. At 1^4 P- M. I walked down the rapid, the canoe ran it close on the left with everything. Many of these people, like the others, have shells in their noses. Their burying grounds are all of the same fashion. They say the South lands are bare of animals but the North side have Chevruil, sheep, goats etc. of the latter of which they make good blankets. Though poor in provi- sions they were all hearty in health and tolerably well clothed for the country, a few buffalo robes etc. The country is wholly meadow with a few rocks showing themselves along the river side and in the high lands. Course S. 50 E. 1 m, Course S. 10 E. \y 2 m + 2 m, S. 10 E. y 2 m, S. 56 E. y 2 m, Steep fluted rocks 17 on the left. Course N. 68 E. 1^ m. See a vast wall of rock bounding the river on the right, also much of the same on the left. At 3 :5 P. M. put ashore to boil salmon and at 4^2 P. M. set off. Saw one of their winter huts, the ground is hollowed away for about 1 ft deep. Co. S. 70 E. y 2 m, S. 5 E. 2 m, S. 30 E. 1 m, S. 10 E. 1 m, S. 20 W. lj m, S. 8 W. 1 m. All steep rock and fine low meadows. It is curious to see fine meadow as it were springing out of the feet of steep rocks, and spreading along the river, at times fine knolls of sand. S. 40 E. \y 4 m, + y 2 m, S. 22 E. \y 2


1 7 Probably the mouth of Moses Coulee; and the Lodgestick Bluffs on right just below.