•242 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



In the morning it was found that a number of the Indians had 

 departed, which relieved the agent's fears for himself, but increased 

 those for our party. He was satisfied that it was too small in 

 number to pass safely through, or overcome the resistance the Indians 

 had prepared to oppose to them. 



Few of these men seem to know the reason of the whites meeting 

 with so few mishaps in passing through an apparently hostile 

 country ; and many deem that it is owing to their own skill and 

 prowess. The truth is, that as soon as the Indians have traded with 

 the whites, and become dependent on them for supplies, thenceforward 

 they can be easily controlled. If disposed to be hostile, the fort at 

 Umpqua would offer no resistance to their attack ; but they are aware 

 that all their supplies of ammunition, tobacco, blankets, and other arti- 

 cles of necessity, would be at once cut off; which would reduce them 

 to great distress. They also know, that in all probability they would 

 receive a severe chastisement for such aggression, from an armed force 

 that would forthwith be sent among them. The self-interest of the 

 Indians is, therefore, the true safeguard of the white traders. 



After effecting the exchange of horses, they discovered that two of 

 those they had hobbled the evening before had escaped; after a 

 three hours' search, they were finally found on the back-trail, several 

 miles from the fort. About noon they set out on their return, 

 having under their escort the Indian wife of the agent, who wished 

 to visit the camp to consult the doctor. Their fresh horses enabled 

 them to get over the bad road with less difficulty than they had found 

 on their way to the fort. 



The party, in the mean time, had not been idle : preparations had 

 been made for the probable encounter with the Indians ; cartridges 

 filled, and balls run, to the amount of fifty rounds apiece; the elk and 

 deer meat had been jerked over a slow fire, and put into packs for 

 transportation. 



The examination of the country surrounding the camp, engaged 

 the attention of the naturalists; many seeds and plants were collected. 

 A species of oak, new to our gentlemen, was first seen here : in its size 

 and appearance, it resembles that of the Willamette, excepting the 

 lobes of the leaves, which have a spire at their termination; and the 

 acorns, which are larger and more deeply set in the cup. A yellow 

 honeysuckle was also found on the banks of the river. 



The bed of the river is here composed of sandstone and clay-slate ; 

 a few hundred yards higher up the stream, the slate disappears, and 



