COLUMBIA RIVER. 



321 



preserved with, great care, being never suffered to lie exposed to the 

 sun, for fear of rents and cracks. When these do occur, the canoe is 

 mended in a very ingenious manner. Holes are made in the sides, 

 through which withes are passed and pegged in such a way that the 

 strain will draw it tighter; the withe is then crossed, and the end 

 secured in the same manner. When the tying is finished, the whole 

 is pitched with the gum of the pine. This is neatly done, and 

 answers the purpose well. 



CANOE OF OREGON INDIANS. 



Although the natives we saw at Port Discovery appeared to be a 

 peaceable race, the neighbouring tribes are frequently at war, and 

 spoke of scalping, and other exploits, as practised by our own abo- 



rigines. 



Apprehensive that difficulties similar to those we met with in the 

 Feejee Group might possibly occur with these Indians, I deemed it 

 expedient to issue the following order. 



GENERAL ORDER. 



The undersigned informs the officers and crews under his com- 

 mand, that the duties upon which they are about to enter will 

 necessarily bring them in contact at times with the savage and 

 treacherous inhabitants of this coast ; and he therefore feels it his 

 duty to enjoin upon them the necessity of unceasing caution, and a 

 restrictive and mild system in all their intercourse with them. 



In my General Order of July 13th, 1839, my views are expressed 

 fully respecting our intercourse with savages, and I expect that the 

 injunctions therein contained will be strictly regarded. 



With a knowledge that many of the misfortunes that have befallen 

 previous voyagers on this coast, have arisen from an unrestrained and 

 unguarded intercourse with the natives, he deems it important to 

 order officers in charge of boats, and those having men under their 

 direction, to make it their especial duty to govern them so as to avoid 



VOL. IV. 81 



