ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIINS, ETC. 245 



CHAPTER XV. 



A village of Kayoiise Indians — their occnpation — appearance and dresses of the 

 women— family laorship — its good effects — Visit to the Blue mountains — 

 Dusky grouse — Return to Walla-walla — Arrival of JMr. JHcLeod, and the 

 missionaries — Letters from home — Death of Antoine Goddin, the trapper — A 

 renegado -white man — Assault by the Walla-walla Indians — JYlissionary 

 duties — Passage do~tvn the Columbia — Rapids — A dog for supper — Prairies 

 onfre — A nocturnal visit — Fishing Indians — Their romantic appearance — 

 Salmon huts — The shoots — Dangerous navigation — Death of Tilki — Seals — 

 Indian stoicism and co7itempt of pain — Skookoom, the strong chief — his 

 death — JMaiming^ an evidence of grief — Arrival at Fort Vancouver — A visit 

 to Fort George — Indian cemeteries — Lewis and Clarke's hozise — A medal — 

 Visit to Chinook — Hospitality of the Indians — Chinamus'' house — The idol — 

 Canine inmates. 



July 26th. — At noon, to-day, we arrived at the Utalla, or 

 Emmitilly river, where we found a large village of Kayouse In- 

 dians, engaged in preparing kamas. Large quantities of this 

 root were strewed about on mats and buffalo robes ; some in a 

 crude state, and a vast quantity pounded, to be made into cakes 

 for winter store. There are of the Indians, about twelve or 

 fifteen lodges. A very large one, about sixty feet long by fifteen 

 broad, is occupied by the chief, and his immediate family. This 

 man I saw when I arrived at Walla-walla, and I have accepted 

 an invitation to make my home in his lodge while I remain 

 here. The house is really a very comfortable one; the rays of 

 the sun are completely excluded, and the ground is covered with 

 buffalo robes. There are in the chief's lodge about twenty 

 women, all busy as usual ; some pounding kamas, others making 



