580 Companion to the Botanical Magazine. 



hat, and a large collection of baskets, cups, and poucbes of tbe same material, 

 for which I paid in tobacco, knives, nails, and gun-flints. Tbe roots of Ci/pe- 

 rus and Thuja are also used for tbe same purpose. When returning last sum- 

 mer from tbe Grand Rapids, I saw one of tbese silver-headed eagles take a small 

 sturgeon out of the water, and as he was soaring over my head, I lifted my gun 

 and brought him down. The claws of the bird were so firmly clenched through 

 the cartilaginous substance of the fish's back, that he would not let go, till I 

 introduced a needle into the vertebrae of his neck. The sturgeon measured fif- 

 teen inches long, and weighed four pounds." — No. cxix. pp. 98, 99. 



" On Thursday 23d (March 1826,) we proceeded on our voyage with a strong 

 westerly wind, which enabled us to hoist a sail, and reached the lower part of the 

 great Falls at dusk, where we camped in a small cove under a shelving rock. 

 Fortunately the night was fine, and the moon bright, which was the more agree- 

 able, as the wind would not allow of our tent being pitched. Here we were 

 placed in a dangerous predicament, from the natives who collected in unusually 

 large numbers, and showed every disposition to be troublesome, because they 

 did not receive so ample a supply of tobacco as they had expected. We were 

 obliged to watch the whole night. Having a few of my small wax tapers still 

 remaining, I lighted one, and sat down to write to Mr Murray of Glasgow, and 

 to arrange in paper some mosses that I had collected the preceding evening. 

 Daylight was a most gladsome sight, as may be imagined, after spending the hours 

 of darkness surrounded by at least 450 savages, whose manners announced any- 

 thing but amicable feelings towards us. As no one in the brigade could converse 

 with them much better than myself, little could be done by persuasion. How- 

 ever, discovering that two of the principal men understood tbe Chenook language, 

 which I am slightly acquainted with, I found this circumstance of some advan- 

 tage. After taking a hurried and anxious breakfast on the rocks, we proceeded 

 several miles up the river, and in the afternoon made the portage over the great 

 Falls, where Mr M'Leod was apprized that the Indians were lying in wait with 

 the intention of attacking us and pillaging the boat. This warning proved too 

 correct. No sooner had they received the customary present of tobacco, than 

 they became desirous of compelling us to encamp for the night, that they might 

 the better effect their purpose. The first symptom of hostile intentions which 

 we observed, was their cunning trick of sprinkling water on the gun-berrels of 

 our party, and when the boats were ordered to be put into the water, they would 

 not allow it to be done. As Mr M'L. was laying bis hand on the shoulders of 

 one native to push him back, another fellow immediately drew from his quiver a 

 bow and a handful of arrows, and presented it at Mr M'L. My position at the 

 time, at the outside of the crowd, enabling me to perceive this manoeuvre, and 

 no time being to be lost, I instantly slipped the cover off my gun, which was 

 fortunately loaded with buck-shot, and presenting it at him, I invited him to dis- 

 charge his arrow, when I would return it with my own weapon. Just at this 

 moment, a chief of the Kyemuse, and three of his young men, who are the ter- 

 ror of all the other tribes west of the mountains, and the staunch friends of the 

 white people (as they call us) stepped in among the party, and settled the affair 

 without any further trouble." P. 104 — 105. 



" The weather being pleasant, I begun preparing for my great excursion to 

 the mountains, and sent accordingly to the Indian camp to bid my guide be ready 

 by sunrise. During the night I was annoyed by the visit of a herd of rats, which 



