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River. Through signs they made it known that they 
were peaceably disposed and wished to trade with the 
fort. Some white men—among them Godin, who 
chanced to be there—crossed the river,.and smoked 
the pipe of peace with them. While they were thus 
employed, a Blackfoot shot Godin from behind, and 
so avenged the death of their leader through similar 
treachery. Such occurrences are here, unfortunately, 
not uncommon; and the first provocation is given or- 
dinarily by the whites rather than by the Indians. 
The days of rest which I spent at Fort Hall re- 
stored full vigor to my body, which had been debili- 
tated by my previous illness and hardships; and the 
leisure I had to reflect on my program for further 
travel, determined me to change it; and, instead of 
going to the Columbia River to return to the United 
States. Several reasons brought me to this conclusion. 
In our party, composed of very heterogeneous ele- 
ments, many dissensions had of late developed, so 
that a regular separation occurred, our party, small 
as it was, splitting into three or four smaller ones. 
Although I took no part in these petty quarrels, I was 
ill at ease the while, and missed a great comfort on 
such trips, that is, good company. Moreover, I 
would in all probability have had to spend the win- 
ter on the Columbia, for the journey from there to 
California by land is very fatiguing and dangerous. 
Caravans go there but seldom, and then my limited 
means would not permit me a prolonged stay on the 
Columbia and a scientific exploration of the country. 
Beginning 
the Return 
Journey— 
The Beaver 
