200 CALIFORNIA. 



journey. They formed one of the connecting links between the 

 operations of the two parties, and served to verify their respective 

 observations. Indians were seen on the west bank of the river, with 

 a number of women in company, who seemed well disposed to enter 

 into communication, as they motioned the party to land. 



In the afternoon, they encamped on the west bank, at a considerable 

 distance above the Butes. The river was here only two hundred feet 

 wide, and its banks but fifteen feet high. The trees on the shores 

 had now become quite thick, and grew with great luxuriance ; so 

 much so, that were the sight confined to the river banks, it might 

 be supposed that the country was one continued forest, instead of 

 an open prairie. 



The Indians who visited them at this camp, were less timid, and a 

 much finer-looking set of men than those before seen. They allowed 

 the officers and men to examine their bows and arrows, and appeared 

 to have confidence in our good feeling towards them. The old chief 

 welcomed the party, granted them permission to encamp on the 

 bank, and then departing with all his tribe, nothing more was seen of 

 him until late the next morning. 



On the 31st, they again proceeded, and passed several Indian vil- 

 lages. Before noon, they arrived at a substantially built fish-weir, of 

 which the Indians began to take a part down, but Lieutenant-Com- 

 mandant Ringgold deeming that this was the termination of his 

 exploration, motioned to them to desist. This fish-weir was con- 

 structed with a great deal of art : stakes, pointing down the stream, 

 had been driven into its bed, having three openings, which led into 

 square pens above ; over each of the entrances into the pens was a 

 platform, on which the natives stand to take the fish ; on these also 

 there were heaps of ashes, indicating that the natives make use of fire 

 to attract the fish. The annexed wood-cut is a representation of the 

 weir. 





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vrfis^A/Wvxi^ "£^is/\nm_wvv\aJ ^w*^>/\n/*in/saa^* AA/v^a/\a/.j\aA^~'~~^. % 



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FISH-WEIR. 



The river was examined for two or three miles above, and found to 

 be filled with rapids, and innumerable difficulties caused by snags 



