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"The Morning Was As Usual Cool; But As The Weather Both Yesterday
And To-Day Was Cloudy, Our Merchandise Dried
But slowly.
The boat, though much injured, was repaired by ten o'clock so as to
be perfectly fit for service;
But we were obliged to remain during
the day till the articles were sufficiently dry to be reloaded.
The interval we employed in purchasing fish for the voyage,
and conversing with the Indians. In the afternoon we were surprised
at hearing that our old Shoshonee guide and his son had left us
and had been seen running up the river several miles above.
As he had never given any notice of his intention, nor had even
received his pay for guiding us, we could not imagine the cause
of his desertion; nor did he ever return to explain his conduct.
We requested the chief to send a horseman after him to
request that he would return and receive what we owed him.
From this, however, he dissuaded us, and said very frankly
that his nation, the Chopunnish, would take from the old
man any presents that he might have on passing their camp.
The Indians came about our camp at night, and were very gay and
good-humored with the men. Among other exhibitions was that of a squaw
who appeared to be crazy. She sang in a wild, incoherent manner,
and offered to the spectators all the little articles she possessed,
scarifying herself in a horrid manner if anyone refused her present.
She seemed to be an object of pity among the Indians, who suffered
her to do as she pleased without interruption."
The river was full of rapids and very dangerous rocks and reefs,
and the voyagers were able to make only twenty miles a day for some
distance along the stream.
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