A RELIC OF THE LEWIS AND CLARKE EXPEDITION 101 



advancing slowly up the Columbia. Their diary makes frequent 

 mention of the fact that they exchanged trinkets of all descrip- 

 tions for food and at times wood. As they approached the mouth 

 of Snake or Lewis river, they were delayed several days in the 

 effort to obtain horses for their overland trip across the conti- 



nental divide. They found a difficulty in this, owing to their 

 greatly reduced supplies, and everything not of absolute neces- 

 sity was used in their barterings. 



The above-described relic is now deposited in the land office 

 at The Dalles. It was seen by the writer during the summer of 

 1897 in a fairly well preserved but, of course, rusty condition. 

 It is one solid, welded piece of iron, with the box under the 

 name formed by a raised rim. A pivoted handle, which was not 

 found, was evidently used with the brand, as a short, cylindrical 

 projection on the back of the iron could hardly have been used 

 for any other purpose. This brand was not used for stock, but 

 probably for stamping boxes, leather, or notices of locations or 

 discoveries on near-by trees. It is the intention to deposit this 

 relic with the Oregon Historical Society. 



Cyrus C. Babb. 



