62 WILLAMETTE FALLS INDIANS. 



numerous band is now reduced to some half-dozen lodges, and con 

 fined to a few barren acres of ground on the west bank of the "Willa- 

 mette, where they maintain a miserable existence by fishing at the 

 falls of that river. 



Although reduced in circumstances and degraded by dissipation, 

 Wa-sha-mus retains much of that native dignity which gave him 

 the ascendency over a brave band of warriors. 



In the days of his prosperity he made frequent excursions to the 

 mountain tribes, with whom he carried on an extensive traffic in the 

 exchange of dried salmon for slaves, horses, dried meat, and articles 

 of clothing or ornament. On his return from one of these excur- 

 sions, he was attacked by a large party of Roque River Indians, and 

 in the skirmish lost his left eye by an arrow. In this battle he took 

 many scalps, which he presented to the commander of one of Her 

 Majesty's ships, and received in return a naval officer's suit, a part 

 of which he still retains ; and when intoxicated, he may be seen in 

 the mixed costume of an English admiral and Indian chief. 



It is a very common practice of the Shaste, Umpqua, and Eoque 

 River Indians, to sell their children in slavery to the tribes inhabit- 

 ing the banks of the Columbia River. During my tour through the 

 Willamette valley in 1848, I met a party of Tlickitacks returning 

 from one of these trading excursions, having about twenty little boys, 

 whom they had purchased from the Umpqua tribe. 



115. 



MARY AND ACHATA. 



(Painted.1847.) 



Willamette Falls Squaws. This group belong to the great family 

 of Chinooks, or Flat-Heads. 



116. 



WILLAMETTE FALLS. 



(Painted 1848.) 



