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248 ISAKRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



men lolling around, smoking and talking, and not even once di- 

 recting their fair partners in their task. The whole camp tra- 

 velled with me to Walla-walla, where we arrived the next day. 



Sept. 1st. — Mr. John M'Leod, a chief trader of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company, arrived this morning from the rendezvous, with a 

 small trading party. I had been anxiously expecting this gentle- 

 man for several weeks, as I intended to return with him to Van- 

 couver. He is accompanied by several Presbyterian missiona- 

 ries, the Rev. Mr. Spalding and Doctor Whitman, with their 

 wives, and Mr. Gray, teacher. Doctor Whitman presented me 

 with a large pacquet of letters from my beloved friends at home. 

 I need not speak of the emotions excited by their reception, nor 

 of the trembling anxiety with which I tore open the envelope 

 and devoured the contents. This is the first intelligence which I 

 have received from them since I left the state of Missouri, and was 

 as unexpected as it was delightful. 



Mr. M'Leod informed me of the murder of Antoine Goddin, 

 the half-breed trapper, by the Blackfeet Indians, at Fort Hall. — 

 A band of these Indians appeared on the shore of the Portneuf 

 river, opposite the fort, headed by a white man named Bird. — 

 This man requested Goddin, whom he saw on the opposite side 

 of the river, to cross to him with a canoe, as he had beaver 

 which he wished to trade. The poor man accordingly embarked 

 alone, and landing near the Indians, joined the circle which they 

 had made, and smoked the pipe of peace with them. While 

 Goddin was smoking in his turn, Bird gave a sign to the Indians, 

 and a volley was fired into his back. While he was yet living, 

 Bird himself tore the scalp from the poor fellow's head, and deli- 

 berately cut Captain Wyeth's initials, N. J. W. in large letters 

 upon his forehead. He then hallowed to the fort people, telling 

 them to bury the carcass if they wished, and immediately went 

 off with his party. 



