386 WALLAWALLA. 



From the high hills on the southern bank of the river, there is an 

 extensive view of the country to the south. The distant part of this 

 prospect was made up of rolling, barren, and arid hills. These hills, 

 as well as the country nearer at hand, were covered with a natural hay 

 or bunch-grass, which affords very nutritious food for cattle. 



The missionaries have been stationed at the Dalles since 1838. 

 The primary object of this mission is, in the first place, to give the 

 Gospel to the Indians, and next to teach them such arts of civilization 

 as shall enable them to improve their condition, and by degrees to 

 become an enlightened community. There are many difficulties that 

 the missionary has to contend with, in first coming among these people, 

 none of which are greater than the want of knowledge of their true 

 character. The missionaries, after a full opportunity of knowing these 

 Indians, consider covetousness as their prevailing sin, which is exhibited 

 in lying, dishonest traffic, gambling, and horse-racing. Of the latter 

 they are extremely fond, and are continually desirous of engaging in it. 

 This sport frequently produces contentions, which often end in blood^ 

 shed. Stealing prevails to an alarming extent: scarcely any thing that 

 can be removed is safe. The missionaries have several times had their 

 houses broken open, and their property more or less damaged. The 

 stealing of horses in particular is very common, but after being broken 

 down they are sometimes returned. There are but few chiefs to whom 

 the appeal for redress can be made, and they can exercise but little 

 control over such a lawless crew. Those who gather here are gene- 

 rally the very worst of the tribes around. 



The number of Indians within the Dalles mission is reckoned at 

 about two thousand ; in but few of these, however, has any symptom 

 of reform shown itself. They frequent the three great salmon-fishe- 

 ries of the Columbia, the Dalles, Cascades, and Chutes, and a few 

 were found at a salmon-fishery about twenty-five miles up the Chutes 

 river. 



The season for catching salmon, which is the chief article of food in 

 this country, lasts during five months, from May to September. The 

 country also furnishes quantities of berries, nuts, roots, and game, con- 

 sisting of bears, elk* and deer ; but, owing to the improvidence of the 

 native inhabitants, they are, notwithstanding this ample supply of 

 articles of food f oftentimes on the verge of starvation. 



After the fishing and trading season is over, they retire to their 

 villages, and pass the rest of the year in inactivity, consuming the 

 food supplied by the labours of the preceding summer ; and as the 

 season for fishing comes round, they again resort to the fisheries. 

 This is the ordinary course of life among these Indians, whose dissi- 



