120 
COLUMBIA RIVER. 
her up with casks, which, fortunately, we had at hand, on board the 
Oregon. It now became necessary to float her off', in order to avoid 
a second failure. We therefore had recourse to passing her chain 
cable under her bottom, to which a line of casks was lashed on the 
weather side, at the same time the launch was suspended as a weight 
from her masthead to preserve her in the same position. The hawsers 
that had been landed at Astoria by our store-vessels were sent for and 
attached to the brig’s anchors, and so placed as to haul her at once 
into the deepest water and through the narrow pass. When all was 
prepared, a strong wind arose from the seaward, and caused a swell 
which broke adrift some of the casks, leaving sufficient, however, to 
float her before high water. 
I was much relieved when I saw her again float, for I had felt 
not a little anxious lest in the drifting sands of the river she might 
have formed a bed, which would have placed it out of our power to 
get her off before the next spring tides, and would have compelled 
us to discharge all her guns, &c. Although this would have been 
attended with a great deal of trouble, it would have been of little 
consequence compared with the loss of time, which we could ill afford 
to spare. 
After getting her off, we ran up the river a few miles, and anchored 
just below the Pillar Rock, and opposite to Waikaikum. Waikaikum 
belongs to a chief named Skamakewea, and is a large lodge, picketed 
around with planks. 
Mr. Hale passed two days there, and obtained much interesting 
information from him relative to his tribe. This chief formerly had a 
large tribe under him, but since the year 1830 the fever has destroyed 
them nearly all. The portion of this country more immediately affected 
by this scourge, extends along the banks of the river from the ocean to 
the Cascades; but that part of it which is within the influence of the 
ocean tides, is the least subject to its ravages. When an Indian con¬ 
tracts this disease, he seldom recovers, for the treatment he goes 
through is sufficient to kill a person in good health. 
Pillar Rock is called by the Indians Taluaptea, after the name of a 
chief, who in bygone days lived at the falls of the Columbia, and who, 
having incurred the displeasure of their spirit, called Talapos, was 
turned into a rock, and placed where he would be washed by the 
waters of the great river. The rock is twenty-five feet high, and only 
ten feet square at its top: it is composed of conglomerate or pudding- 
stone, and is fast crumbling to pieces. I found great difficulty in 
ascending it. 
The next morning, in proceeding up the river to carry on the 
