'cx.z 



THE CANADIAN JOURNAL. 



NEW SERIES. 



No. V.— SEPTEMBER, 1856 



NOTES OF TRAVEL AMONG THE WALLA- WALLA 

 INDIANS. 



BY PAUL KANE, TORONTO. 



Bead before the Canadian Institute, 5th April, 1856. 



In former selections from my notes, made during years of travel 

 among the Indians of the North- West, I have communicated ac- 

 counts of two Tribes presenting the most striking elements of 

 contrast : the Chinooks, one of the numerous Tribes of the Plat 

 Head ludians, inhabiting the tract of country at the mouth of the 

 Columbia River ; and the singular tribe of Half-breeds to be found 

 in the Hudson Bay Company's Territory, in the vicinity of the Red 

 River. Eor the present communication, I have selected from my 

 Journal notes relating to the Walla- Walla and Kye-use Indians, as 

 possessing a peculiar interest, from the fact that I was present at 

 some of the scenes in which the present war between these Tribes 

 and the settlers in Oregon originated. 



On the 12th of July, 1817, on my return journey up the 

 Columbia River, I arrived at Walla- Walla, about five hundred miles 

 from its mouth. It is a small Eort, built of Dobies, or blocks of 

 mud baked in. the sun, which is here intensely hot. Eort Walla- 

 Walla is situated at the mouth of the river of the same name, in 

 the most sandy and barren desert that can well be conceived. Little 

 or no rain ever falls here, although a few miles lower down the 

 river it is seen from hence to pour down in torrents. Owing to its 



