62 CRUISINGS IN THE CASCADES 



Chinook word for squaw) who. was a remarkably 

 neat, cleanly housekeeper, who had a spare room, 

 and who usually kept any strangers that wished to 

 stop over night in the village. While we were talk- 

 ing the squaw in question came in and Mr. Barker 

 said to her: 



"Mary, yah-kwa Boston man tik-eh moo-sum 

 me-si-ka house po-lak-le." (Here is an American 

 who would like to sleep in your house to-night.) 

 To which she replied: 



" Yak-ka hy-ak " (lie can come), and the bargain 

 was closed. 



I remained at the store and talked with Mr. 

 Barker and his friends until ten o'clock, when he 

 took a lantern and piloted me over to the Indian 

 rancherie, where I was to lodge. I took my sleeping- 

 bag with me and thanked my stars that I did, for 

 notwithstanding the assurances given me by good 

 Mr. Barker that the Indian woman was as good a 

 housekeeper as the average white woman, I was 

 afraid of vermin. I have never known an Indian to 

 be without the hemipterous little insect, Pediculus 

 (humanus) capitis. Possibly there may be some 

 Indians who do not wear them; I simply say I have 

 never had the pleasure of knowing one, and I have 

 known a great many, too. I seriously doubt if one 

 has ever yet lived many days at a time devoid of the 

 companionship of these pestiferous little creatures. 

 In fact, an Indian and a louse are natural allies 

 boon companions and are as inseparable as the 

 boarding-house bed and the bedbug. The red man 

 is so inured to the ravages of his parasitic com- 

 panion, so accustomed to have him rustling 



