WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 337 



This George Gay said could be easily done, with fresh and good 

 horses. Taking him as a guide, I set off, and after passing a few- 

 miles, we crossed a low ridge of rough rocky ground, of trap for- 

 mation, about a mile wide : it was well wooded with pines and firs. 

 After passing the ridge, we again entered on fine prairies, part of 

 the farm of Dr. Bailey. This was one of the most comfortable I had 

 yet seen, and was certainly in the neatest order. Dr. Bailey had 

 married one of the girls who came out with the missionaries, and 

 the mistress of the establishment was as pleasing as it was well con- 

 ducted. Dr. Bailey desiring to accompany us to the falls, I gladly 

 concluded to await their dinner, and before it was served had an 

 opportunity of looking about the premises. The locality resembles 

 the prairies I have so often spoken of, but there was something in 

 the arrangements of the farm that seemed advanced beyond the other 

 settlements of the country. The garden was, in particular, exceed- 

 ingly well kept, and had in it all the best vegetables of our own 

 country. This was entirely the work of Mrs. Bailey, whose activity 

 could not rest content until it was accomplished. She had followed 

 the mission as a teacher, until she found there was no field for labour. 

 She had been in hope that the great missionary field to the north, 

 of which I have before spoken, would be occupied ; but this being 

 neglected, she had left them. 



Dr. Bailey had been the practising physician of the mission. He 

 had been several years in the country, and was one of a party that, 

 while passing through to California, was attacked by the Indians in 

 their camp, and nearly all murdered. Dr. Bailey, after being severely 

 wounded, made his escape, and returned to the Willamette ; but he 

 bears the marks of several wounds on his head and face. He spoke 

 well of the country, considers it fruitful, and healthy for white men ; 

 and that it would be so for the Indians, if they could be persuaded to 

 take care of themselves. The ague and fever, though common on the 

 low prairies, was not of a dangerous type, and after the first attack, 

 those of subsequent years were less violent, even if it did occur, 

 which was rare. The climate, however, was very destructive to the 

 Indians, of whom at least one-fourth died off yearly. 



When aa Indian is sick, and considered beyond moving, he is 

 poisoned by the medicine-man ; for which purpose a decoction of the 

 wild cucumber (Bryonia) is given him. Some of the roots of this 

 plant grow to a very large size ; and I saw some at Mr. Waller's, 

 three feet long by twelve inches in diameter. 



