ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 253 



below the Dalles they are particularly abundant, being attracted 

 thither by the vast shoals of salmon which seek the turbulent 

 water of the river. Wc occasionally shoot one of them as he 

 raises his dog-like head above the surface, but we make no 

 use of them ,• they are only valuable for the large quantity of oil 

 which they yield. 



We observe on the breasts and bellies of many of the Indians 

 here, a number of large red marks, mostly of an oval form, some- 

 times twenty or thirty grouped together. These are wounds made 

 by their own hands, to display to their people the unwavering and 

 stoical resolution with which they can endure pain. A large 

 fold of the skin is taken up with the fingers, and sliced oif with a 

 knife; the surrounding fibre then retreats, and a large and ghastly 

 looking wound remains. Many that I saw to-day are yet 

 scarcely cicatrized. There is a chief here who obtained the dig- 

 nity which he now enjoys, solely by his numerous and hardy 

 feats of this kind. He was originally a common man, and pos- 

 sessed but one wife ; he has now six, and any of the tribe would 

 think themselves honored by his alliance. He is a most gigantic 

 fellow, about six feet four inches in height, and remarkably stout 

 and powerful. The whole front of his person is covered with the 

 red marks of which I have spoken, and he displays with con- 

 siderable pride the two scars of a bullet, which entered the left 

 breast, and passed out below the shoulder blade. This wound 

 he also made with his own hand, by placing the muzzle of his 

 gun against his breast, and pressing the trigger with his toe ; 

 and by this last, and most daring act, he was raised to the chief 

 command of all the Indians on the north side of the river. Now 

 that Tilki is no more, he will probably be chosen chief of all the 

 country from the cascades to Walla-walla, I asked him if he 

 felt no fear of death from the wound in his chest, at the time it 

 was inflicted. He said, no ; that his heart was strong, and that 

 a bullet could never kill him. He told me that he was entirely 



