348 WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 



useful in making every thing, besides taking care of the household 

 concerns, and is rather pretty. Johnson's estimate of her was that 

 she was worth " half a dozen civilized wives." There is little clean- 

 liness, however, about his house, and many of the duties are left to 

 two young male slaves, of Indian blood, but of what tribe I did not 

 learn. Johnson's farm consists of about forty acres under cultivation : 

 his wheat and potatoes were flourishing, and he had a tolerable 

 kitchen-garden. He has some little stock, but complained much of the 

 Oregon tiger, or American panther. These voracious animals are 

 numerous and bold : the night before we arrived, they had entered the 

 pen and killed a calf, regardless of the dogs; and an alarm was 

 given on the night of our stay, when all the guns were in requisition, 

 and noise enough was made in getting ready, to scare away dozens of 

 them. 



We were informed that there are plenty of elk, and deer, and that 

 the grizzly bear is also common. The flesh of the latter animal is 

 very much esteemed. Wild ducks and geese are quite numerous in 

 the spring and fall, covering the rivers, lakes, and ponds. 



There are four houses and three lodges in sight of Johnson's farm, 

 whence all the neighbours called to see us. They were just the sort 

 of men one would expect to see in such a place. One was an old 

 man by the name of Cannon, who had been one of the party with 

 Lewis and Clarke, and was from his own account the only remaining 

 one in the country. He likes the country, and says he thinks there 

 is no necessity for Dr. M'Laughlin's authority or laws to govern it. 



Old Moore had some shrewdness, and was exceedingly talkative ; 

 he possessed much information in relation to the country he had passed 

 through, which I found to correspond to what I have since received 

 from other sources. He had crossed the mountains the year before, 

 and found no difficulty in making the trip. He intends to return and 

 bring out his family, being of opinion that the country is a fine one, 

 and exceedingly healthy, and that it will compare well with the lands 

 of Missouri and Illinois. The great objection to the upper country, 

 on the route by which we travelled, was the want of wood. 



Another of these men was named George Gay, of whom I shall 

 speak hereafter. 



We found this, as I said before, a dirty house : the people were idle 

 and fond of lounging, and all I have yet seen are uncombed and un- 

 shaved. 



These people were quite alive on the subject of laws, courts, and 

 magistrates, including governors, judges, &c. I was here informed 

 that a committee had been appointed to wait upon me on my arrival 



