130 
COLUMBIA RIVER. 
days continued unwilling to lend them any aid in the management of 
their canoes, and none of them could be induced to venture out in 
what they deemed stormy weather; another reason for not engaging in 
the service was, they did not wish to leave their wives behind. It being 
at last agreed that their wives should accompany them, Mr. Colvoco- 
ressis embarked in order to join Mr. Eld; but to do this it was 
necessary to encounter both the wind and sea, in consequence of which 
the Indians refused to proceed unless they had an extra allowance of 
powder and tobacco. 
This being refused, they quietly steered the canoe back to the 
encampment. On arriving there, it soon became evident to Mr. Col- 
vocoressis that their intention was to take away their canoe, for they 
at once began to put in her the few things they possessed. He there¬ 
fore took two of their guns, and concealed them in one of the tents. An 
Indian, the moment Mr. Colvocoressis’s back was turned to the tents, 
drew his knife, rushed into them, and brought forth the guns, one of 
which he handed to a woman. The musket which the squaw had was 
again taken, upon which the Indians said that they would complete 
their bargain, and induced Mr. Colvocoressis to believe they would do 
so. He therefore embarked, and they proceeded with apparent willing¬ 
ness, until they came opposite their own village, where they landed, and 
refused to go any further. They, however, offered him a small canoe, 
to take him across the river, and the Indian to whom the musket they 
had taken belonged, ferried him across. In the evening, the Indians 
returned to ask for the musket, but it was refused until they should 
return the axe that had been left in the canoe, and agree to abide by the 
bargain they had made to render them assistance. The next day the 
axe was restored, and the musket given up. After this, a more friendly 
disposition was evinced, as Mr. Eld supposes from the fact of their 
having learnt from Nisqually who they were. 
From the 1st to the 6th of August, the party effected little, and their 
supply of provisions was becoming very low. On the latter day they 
shifted their camp, about five miles towards the capes, to a small patch 
of meadow-land, near one of the small streams which empty into the 
harbour. 
After remaining here a few days, they selected another spot, at the 1 
South Head: and on the 10th, the Indians failing to perform their 
engagements, they moved their articles themselves to their new 
encampment. They had now very nearly exhausted their provisions, 
and were living on the dead fish they picked up on the beach (a sort 
of hake) and some berries. From continual exposure to wet, with hard 
work, as well as scanty and bad food, they all became very feeble and 
