They Were Very Well Disposed, And We Found No
Difficulty In Procuring Two Small Canoes, In Exchange For Two Robes And Four
Elk-Skins.
He also purchased with deer-skins three dogs, - an animal which has
now become a favorite food, for it
Is found to be a strong, healthy diet,
preferable to lean deer or elk, and much superior to horseflesh in any state.
With these he proceeded along the south side of the river, and joined us
in the evening."
Above the rapids the party encountered two tribes of Indians from
whom they endeavored to buy horses, for they were now approaching
a point when they must leave the river and travel altogether by land.
One of these tribes was known as the Weocksockwillacurns,
and the other was the Chilluckittequaws. These jaw-breaking
names are commended to those who think that the Indian names
of northern Maine are difficult to handle. Trees were now
growing scarcer, and the wide lowlands spread out before
the explorers stretched to the base of the Bitter Root Mountains
without trees, but covered with luxuriant grass and herbage.
After being confined so long to the thick forests and mountains
of the seacoast, the party found this prospect very exhilarating,
notwithstanding the absence of forests and thickets.
The climate, too, was much more agreeable than that to which they
had lately been accustomed, being dry and pure.
Chapter XX
The Last Stage of the Columbia
On the thirteenth of April the party reached the series of falls
and rapids which they called the Long Narrows.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 264 of 362
Words from 80173 to 80433
of 110166
