Basilicon, Of Which
Mention Is Frequently Made In The Journal, Was An Ointment Composed
Of Black Pitch, White Wax, Resin,
And olive oil; it was esteemed as a
sovereign remedy for all diseases requiring an outward application.
With these valuables
Two men were sent out to trade with the Indians,
on the second day of June, and they returned with three bushels
of eatable roots and some cowas bread. Later in that day,
a party that had been sent down the river (Lewis') in quest of food,
returned with a goodly supply of roots and seventeen salmon.
These fish, although partly spoiled by the long journey home,
gave great satisfaction to the hungry adventurers, for they were
the promise of a plenty to come when the salmon should ascend
the rivers that make into the Columbia. At this time we find
the following interesting story in the journal of the expedition: -
"We had lately heard, also, that some Indians, residing at
a considerable distance, on the south side of the Kooskooskee,
were in possession of two tomahawks, one of which had been left
at our camp on Moscheto Creek, and the other had been stolen
while we were with the Chopunnish in the autumn. This last we
were anxious to obtain, in order to give it to the relations of our
unfortunate companion, Sergeant Floyd,[1] to whom it once belonged.
We therefore sent Drewyer, with the two chiefs Neeshnepahkeeook
and Hohastillpilp (who had returned to us) to demand it.
On their arrival, they found that the present possessor
of it, who had purchased it of the thief, was at the point
of death; and his relations were unwilling to give it up,
as they wished to bury it in the grave with the deceased.
The influence of Neeshnepahkeeook, however, at length prevailed;
and they consented to surrender the tomahawk on receiving two
strands of beads and a handkerchief from Drewyer, and from each
of the chiefs a horse, to be killed at the funeral of their kinsman,
according to the custom of the country."
[1] See page 23.
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