ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 233 



bored; now, however, they are as submissive as children. Some 

 have even entered into the service of the whites, and when once 

 the natural and persevering indolence of the man is worn off', 

 he will work well and make himself useful. 



About two hundred miles southward, the Indians are said to 

 be in a much more flourishing condition, and their hostility to 

 the white people to be most deadly. They believe that we brought 

 with us the fatal fever which has ravaged this portion of the 

 , country, and the consequence is, that they, kill without mercy 

 every white man who trusts himself amongst them. 



October 1st. — Doctor Gairdner, the surgeon of Fort Vancouver, 

 took passage a few days ago to the Sandwich Islands, in one of the 

 Company's vessels. He has been suffering for several months, 

 with a pulmonary affection, and is anxious to escape to a milder 

 and more salubrious climate. In his absence, the charge of the 

 hospital will devolve on me, and my time will thus be employed 

 through the coming winter. There are at present but few cases 

 of sickness, mostly ague and fever, so prevalent at this season. 

 My companion, Mr. Nuttall, was also a passenger in the same 

 vessel. From the islands, he will probably visit California, and 

 either return to the Columbia by the next ship, and take the 

 route across the mountains, or double Cape Horn to reach his 

 home. 



IQth. — Several days since, the Rev. Samuel Parker, of Ithaca, 

 N. York, arrived at the fort. He left his home last May, travel- 

 led to the rendezvous on the Colorado, with the fur company of 

 Mr.Fontinelle, and performed the remainder of the journey with 

 the Nez Perce or Cheaptin Indians. His object is to examine 

 the country in respect to its agricultural and other facilities, 

 with a view to the establishment of missions among the Indians. 

 He will probably return to the States next spring, and report the 



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