382 WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 



as if it were as much improved by the hand of civiUzation. The oak 

 trees sprinkled over the hills and bottoms have a strong resemblance 

 to the apple orchards. The extent of country we looked over is from 

 twenty-five to thirty-miles, all of which is capable of being brought 

 to the highest state of cultivation. There are in truth few districts 

 like that of the valley of the Faulitz. 



We passed one or two brick-kilns, and finally reached the new 

 residence of George Gay, one of the most remote on this side of the 

 river. George had reached home with his wife and two children 

 not long before us. His dwelling was to all appearance a good shanty, 

 which contains all his valuables. George is of that lazy kind of 

 lounging figure so peculiar to a backwoodsman or Indian. He has 

 a pretty and useful Indian wife, who does his bidding, takes care 

 of his children and horses, and guards his household and property. 

 The latter is not bulky, for superfluities with George are not to be 

 found, and when he and his wife and children are seen travelling, it 

 is manifest that his all is with him. George is a useful member of 

 society in this small community : he gelds and marks cattle, breaks 

 horses in, and tames cows for milking, assists in finding and driving 

 cattle, — in short, he undertakes all and every sort of singular business ; 

 few things are deemed by him impossibilities; and lastly, in the 

 words of one of the settlers, " George is not a man to be trifled or 

 fooled with." I felt, when I had him for my guide, that there were 

 few difficulties he could not overcome. He is full as much of an 

 Indian in habits as a white man can be. He told me he bore the 

 Indians no love, and is indeed a terror to them, having not unfre- 

 quently applied Lynch law to some of them with much effect. The 

 account he gave of himself is, that he was born of English parents, 

 but became, before he had grown up, more than half Indian, and was 

 now fully their match. I will add, that he is quite equal to them in 

 artifice. He passes for the best lassb-thrower in the country, and is 

 always ready to eaf, sleep, or frolic : his wife and children are to him 

 as his trappings. He has with all this many good points about him. 

 I have seen him, while traveUing with me, dart oflT for half a mile to 

 assist a poor Indian boy who was unable to catch his horse, lasso the 

 horse, put the boy on, and return at full gallop. All this was done 

 in a way that showed it to be his every-day practice ; and his general 

 character throughout the settlement is, that George is ever ready to 

 help those in trouble. 



On our return towards the road, we passed the farm of one of Dr. 



