1827, MAY. FORT VERMILION 269 



manifesting the utmost terror. By most of the tribes the tail feathers are 

 highly prized for adorning their war-caps and other garments. The pipe- 

 stem is also decorated with them, hence comes the name. Abundant 

 at all seasons in the Rocky Mountains, and in winter a few are seen on the 

 mountainous country south of the Columbia on the coast. Are caught as 

 follows : A deep pit is dug in the ground, covered over with small sticks, 

 straw, grass, and a thin covering of earth, in which the hunter takes his 

 seat ; a large piece of flesh is placed above, having a string tied to it, the 

 other end held in the hand of the person below. The bird on eyeing the 

 prey instantly descends, and while his talons are fastened in the flesh the 

 hunter pulls bird and flesh into the pit. Scarcely an instance is known of 

 failing in the hunt. Its ferocity is equal to the grisly bear's ; will die before 

 he lose his prey. The hunter covers his hands and arms with sleeves of 

 strong deerskin leather for the purpose of preventing him from being 

 injured by his claws, j They build in the most inaccessible clefts of the 

 rocks ; have two young at a time, being found in June and July. This one 

 had been taken only a few days after hatching and is now docile. The 

 boys who have been in the habit of teasing him for some time past having 

 ruffled his temper, I took and caged him with some difficulty. Had a 

 fresh box made for seeds and another for my journals, portfolio, and 

 sundry articles. Could find no lock to put on it. The river here is broad, 

 four hundred yards, high, clayey, and muddy banks, water muddy. Coal 

 is found in abundance. 



Saturday 26th to Thursday 31st. Last night, before we should part 

 with our new friends, Mr. Ermatinger was called on to indulge us with a 

 tune on the violin, to which he readily complied. No time was lost in 

 forming a dance ; and as I was given to understand it was principally on 

 my account, I could not do less than endeavour to please by jumping, 

 for dance I could not. The evening passed away pleasantly enough ; 

 breakfasted at five o'clock and embarked in Messrs. Stuart and Rowand's 

 boat with all my baggage and went rapidly before the stream. Day warm 

 and pleasant. Put ashore in the dusk to cook supper, and as the Stone 

 Indians had for the last twelve months manifested hostile intentions 

 it was deemed unsafe to sleep at a camp where fire was. We therefore 

 embarked, had the boats tied two and two together, and drifted all night. 

 Finding this mode of travelling very irksome, never on shore except a short 

 time when cooking breakfast, always dusk before a second meal, I began 

 to think this sort of travelling ill adapted for botanising. Breakfasted at 

 Dogrose Creek, where I found Ribes hudsonianum (Richardson in Frankl. 

 2nd Journ. App. p. 6). The country here changed much for the better ; 

 small hills and clumps of poplar and small rocks. Just in the dusk 

 of the evening had a fine chase after two Red deer swimming in the 

 water, and on following in the boat both were killed ; smaller than those 

 west of the mountains. Saw a huge grisly bear (unsuccessful in killing 

 him) and a number of small plain wolves. Passed Fort Vermilion, an 

 abandoned establishment, and Bear and Red Deer Hills, where the 

 country becomes pastoral and highly adorned by Nature. Soil dry and 

 light, but not unfertile. 



