66 EARLY DAY STORIES. 



bulb something like a small onion. It grows in great quan- 

 tities on the prairies of Central and Eastern Oregon and 

 Washington, its beautiful blue flowers in springtime being 

 so numerous as to give tint and color to the landscape. A 

 camas prairie in early springtime is a lovely sight. The 

 Indians dig the roots in great quantities, and prepare them 

 for winter use. The taste is sweet and agreeable, and has 

 the appearance of having been soaked in molasses before 

 being cured. The saccharine matter, however, is in the plant 

 itself. We had very little to offer them in trade. They 

 would take powder and lead, but of this we only had a small 

 supply. My cousin was trying to strike a bargain with an 

 old squaw for some dried camas roots, but she was sharp 

 and refused whatever he had to offer. Finally putting his 

 hand in his pocket for something he was looking for he 

 accidentally drew out a large smoked pearl button that be- 

 longed on my overcoat and that happened to be in his pock- 

 et. The squaw gave a scream of delight, pushed the bunch 

 of camas roots towards him and seizing the button ran off, 

 evidently thinking she had struck a grand bargain. My 

 overcoat was double breasted, having two rows of smoked 

 pearl buttons up and down in front. From that time on 

 we could buy of the Indians anything they had to offer in 

 the provision line as long as the buttons lasted. At last 

 they were all cut off and the coat was tied together with 

 strings. We had currency of the most acceptable kind un- 

 til we reached the Dalles where there were supplies in plenty. 



I forgot to state that a day or two after we parted 

 company from our train on Burnt river we overtook a young 

 fellow whose name has been forgotten, if indeed, I ever 

 knew it, but who was called Bud. He said he had left his 

 company because they were short of eatables and was mak- 

 ing his way alone. He had no money, no blankets, no over- 

 coat, and nothing to eat. We felt sorry for him and took 

 him in, and took care of him until we arrived at the Dalles 



