128 SJcetch of the Life of Mr, David Douglas. 



marsliy with incessant rain. At the Cowlidsk, lie lighted upon 

 a small boat, belonging to the Hudsons' Bay Company, which had 

 been lent to an Indian chief. In this, by using his cloak and 

 blanket for sail, he got back to Fort Vancouver at midnight on 

 the 15th of November, completely worn out, and in nearly a 

 famished state. The weather had done its worst, and his knee 

 was in a still more painful condition from the fatigue and cold to 

 which he had been exposed. He was now, therefore, compelled 

 to lay himself up in winter quarters to recruit. The months of De- 

 cember, January and February, were passed by him with his Van- 

 couver friends, his time usefully occupied in collecting subjects 

 of zoological interest, and working out in full the short notes he 

 had taken on his various journeys. 



In March of 1826 the enterprising subject of our sketch being 

 bent on a still more extensive tour than he had hitherto made, left 

 his wintering station with the boats that were proceeding for the 

 upper Columbia. At the Chutes, or first great falls of the river, 

 six miles above the Dalles, the party, as was frequently the case 

 there, had difficulties with the Indians in passing the portage, 

 Douglas in his own lively manner describes the scene. 



" After taking a hurried and anxious breakfast on the rocks, 

 " we proceeded several miles up the river, and in the afternoon 

 " made the portage over the Great Falls, where Mr. McLeod was 

 " apprized that the Indians were lying in wait with the intention 

 ^' of attacking us, and pillaging the boats. This warning proved 

 " too correct, no sooner had they received the customary present of 

 " of tobacco, than they became desirous of compelling us to en- 

 " camp for the night, that they might the better efiect their pur- 

 " pose. The first symptom of hostile intentions which we ob- 

 " served, was their cunning trick of sprinkling water on the gun- 

 " barrels of our party, and when the boats were ordered to be put 

 " into the water, they would not allow it to be done. As Mr 

 " McLeod was laying his hand on the shoulders of one native to 

 " push him back, another fellow immediately drew from his 

 " quiver a bow and a handful of arrows, and presented it at Mr. 

 " McLeod. My position at the time, at the outside of the crowd 

 " enabling me to perceive this manoeuvre, and no time being to be 

 " lost, I instantly slipped the cover of my gun, which was 

 " fortunately loaded with buck-shot, and presenting it at him, I 

 " invited him to discharge his arrow, when I would return it 

 " with my own weapon. Just at this moment a chief of the Ky- 



