ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 251 



ground, scribbling by the light of the vast conflagration with as 

 much ease as if I had a ton of oil burning by my side ; but my 

 eyes are every moment involuntarily vv'andering from the paper 

 before me, to contemplate and admire the grandeur of the dis- 

 tant scene. The very heavens themselves appear ignited, and 

 the fragments of ashes and burning grass-blades, ascending and 

 careering about through the glowing firmament, look like brilliant 

 and glorious birds let loose to roam and revel amid this splendid 

 scene. It is past midnight : every one in the camp is asleep, and 

 I am this moment visited by half a dozen Indian fishermen, who 

 arc peering over my shoulders, and soliciting a smoke, so that I 

 shall have to stop, and fill my calamet. 



btli. — The Indians are numerous along the river, and all 

 engaged in fishing ; as we pass along, we frequently see them 

 posted upon the rocks overhanging the water, surveying the boil- 

 ing and roaring food below, for the passing salmon. In most 

 instances, an Indian is seen entirely alone in these situations, 

 often standing for half an hour perfectly still, his eyes rivetted upon 

 the torrent, and his long fish spear poised above his head. The 

 appearance of a solitary and naked savage thus perched like an 

 eagle upon a cliff*, is sometimes, — when taken in connexion with 

 the wild and rugged river scenery, — very picturesque. The 

 spear is a pole about twelve feet in length, at the end of which a 

 long wooden fork is made fast, and between the tines is fixed a 

 barbed iron point. They also, in some situations, use a hand 

 scoop-net, and stand upon scaffolds ingeniously constructed over 

 the rapid water. Their winter store of dried fish is stowed away 

 in little huts of mats and branches, closely interlaced, and also 

 in caches under ground. It is often amusing to see the hungry 

 ravens tearing and tugging at the strong twigs of the houses, in 

 a vain attempt to reach the savory food within. 



In the afternoon, we passed John Day's river, and encamped 

 about sunset at the *' shoots." Here is a very large village of 



