COLUMBIA RIVER. 339 



the equipment of a traveller. From them I learned the manner in 

 which they prepare it, which is as follows. Immediately after the 

 animal is killed, the skin, after having all the hair scraped off, is 

 stretched tight on a frame ; it is there left until it becomes as dry as 

 parchment, when it is rubbed over with the brains of the animal, 

 which impart oil to it ; it is then steeped in warm water, after which 

 it is dried in the smoke, two women stretching it all the time it is 

 drying ; it is then again wet and wound tightly round a tree, from 

 which it is again taken, smoked, and drawn by women as before ; 

 when nearly dry, it is rubbed with the hands as in washing, until it 

 is soft and pliable ; and then it is ready for use. 



Mr. Forrest stated to me that he had put a suit on, twenty-four 

 hours after the animal had beeia running in the forest ! I am well 

 satisfied that no kind of apparel is so well suited as this to the life 

 of an Indian or trapper, and all who travel in a wild country should 

 be provided with such a dress. 



About a mile from the farm-house, we descended a steep bank, two 

 hundred feet high, to the river, where we found our canoes waiting 

 for us. The Cowlitz was here about two hundred yards wide, and 

 very rapid. Our company, or rather crew, consisted of nine young 

 Indians. We were soon seated and gliding down the stream, while 

 each boatman exerted his fullest strength to send us onwards. Just 

 before sunset, when we thought we had made nine miles, we landed 

 and pitched our tents on a small island in the river. The island was 

 covered with drift-wood, which soon enabled us to make a good fire, 

 which the temperature rendered quite acceptable. When our supper 

 was prepared, we found that our Indians had come away destitute 

 of any supply whatever, and that it was necessary to provide for them. 

 This I have generally found to be the case, not only with these 

 Indians, but with the natives of Polynesia ; both require looking 

 after before going on a journey, and will seldom burden themselves 

 with food. 



At the place where we embarked I tried the velocity of the stream, 

 which I found three miles per hour, but in some places it was much 

 more rapid. The temperature of its water was 48° Fahrenheit. 



During the night I succeeded in getting several observations of 

 stars, for latitude and longitude. 



The next morning we made a start betimes, in order to reach 

 Astoria at an early hour. A short distance below our encampment we 



