FROM NISQUALLY TO COLUMBIA RIVER. 255 



tribe, and, like them, live principally by fishing. We found 

 them well supplied with blankets, muskets and knives. They 

 are excessively fond of tobacco, and invariably swallow the 

 smoke, and oftentimes retain it so long in the stomach as to 

 throw them into convulsions. They enjoy high reputation as 

 warriors, for which reason they are much dreaded by their 

 neighbors, the Sachals and Sachaps, who are of a more peace- 

 able character. Their amusements are similar to those of the 

 tribes residing about Nisqually. 



On the day of our departure (24th) for Astoria, the surf ran 

 very high, and our Indians* instead of paddling the canoes 

 preferred tracking them along the beach inside of the surf. 

 This is the mode they always adopt when they are journeying 

 along the coast, to prevent accidents from the surf, of which 

 they have great dread. We made very good progress, and 

 at sunset arrived within fifteen miles of Shoal- Water Bay. 

 Near this day's encampment we found a Chickelees Chief who 

 sold us another canoe, and who promised to act as our guide 

 around to the Columbia. 



About noon next day, we reached Shoal- Water Bay. Here, 

 by reason of not understanding the guide, Mr. Eld and my- 

 self separated, he pursuing the course leading to the eastern 

 Portage, I the one leading to the western, and did not see each 

 other again until we arrived on board the " Flying Fish." 

 The western Portage is the one preferred by the Indians ; it 

 is between four and five miles long, and lays through a flat 

 marshy country. 



On the 27th, the schooner got under- way and landed us at 

 Astoria, where we received written orders from Captain 

 Wilkes, requiring us to join him at Vancouver. 



* The day previous to our leaving Grey's Harbor, Mr. Eld succeeded in engaging 

 ix Indians who were to take us as far as Shoal- Water Bay. 



