WALLAWALLA. 409 



houses. They might raise much more, if they were disposed. The 

 summers here are much hotter than at Vancouver, and consequently 

 drier ; the spring rains cease here earher, and the people harvest in 

 June. 



There are only a few Indians residing near the mission during the 

 winter, and these are a very miserable set, who live in holes in the 

 ground, not unlike a clay oven, in order to keep warm. They are 

 too lazy to cut wood for their fires. The number that visit the Dalles 

 during the fishing season, is about fifteen hundred : these are from all 

 the country round, and are generally the outlawed of the different 

 villages. The missionaries complain much of the insolent behaviour 

 and of the thieving habits, both of the visiters, and those who reside 

 permanently at the falls. They are, therefore, very desirous of hav- 

 ing a few settlers near, that they may have some protection from this 

 annoyance, as they are frequently under apprehension that their lives 

 will be taken. 



It is not to be expected that the missionaries could be able to make 

 much progress with such a set, and they of course feel somewhat 

 discouraged, though they have succeeded in obtaining a moral influ- 

 ence over a few. 



The river, between the Cascades and the Dalles, a distance of forty 

 miles, has no rapids, and is navigable for vessels drawing twelve feet 

 of water. It passes through high rocky banks of basalt. 



The missionaries informed Mr. Drayton, that the salmon-fishery at 

 the Dalles lasts six months, and that sturgeon are taken during the 

 greater part of the year. 



The mission is three miles from the Dalles. On Mr. Drayton 

 reaching the lower point of the portage, he found Mr. Ogden en- 

 camped, and a boat-load of packages spread out to dry. It appeared 

 that one of the boats had bilged in passing up, and required repairs. 

 The place was luckily fitted for these operations, as it had but one 

 entrance to protect against about a thousand Indians, on the look-out 

 for whatever they could pick up, and who required the whole force of 

 the brigade to keep them in check. 



The Dalles is appropriately called the Billingsgate of Oregon. 

 The diversity of dress among the men was greater even than in the 

 crowds of natives I have described as seen in the Polynesian islands ; 

 but they lack the decency and care of their persons which the islanders 

 exhibit. The women also go nearly naked, for they wear little else 

 than what may be termed a breech-cloth, of buckskin, which is black 



VOL. IV. 103 



