412 PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 



frolic and pleasure, they were allowed to barbecue an ox, which the 

 Company's agent had obligingly sold me. They were permitted to 

 make their own arrangements for the celebration, which they con- 

 ducted in the following manner. 



The place chosen for the purpose was a corner of the Mission 

 Prairie, before spoken of. Here they slaughtered their ox, and spitted 

 him on a sapling supported over the fire, which was made in a trench. 

 The carcass could thus be readily turned, and a committee of the crew 

 was appointed to cook him. Others were engaged in arranging the 

 amusements, &c. All was activity and bustle on the morning of the 

 5th, as the 4th fell upon Sunday. Before nine o'clock all the men were 

 mustered on board in clean white frocks and trousers, and all, including 

 the marines and music, were landed shortly after, to march to the scene 

 of festivity, about a mile distant. The procession was formed at the 

 observatory, whence we all marched off with flags flying and music 

 playing, Vendovi and the master-at-arms bringing up the rear. Vendovi 

 was dressed out after the Feejee fashion. It was truly gratifying to 

 me to see them all in such good health and spirits, not a man sick, and 

 their clothes as white as snow, with happy and contented faces. 



Had it not been for the want of news from the Peacock, and the 

 consequent apprehensions in relation to her fate, I should have felt and 

 enjoyed the scene much more than I did. But the continual feeling 

 that the ship might have been lost on some coral reef, and the idea of 

 the sufferings her officers and crew would, in such case, undergo, 

 tended to repress all other thoughts. This anxiety was not only felt 

 by myself, but the officers and crew partook of it in a great degree. 

 It was impossible to conjecture her fate, yet her continued absence and 

 detention beyond the time of her anticipated arrival, naturally excited 

 many fears and surmises, which, as the time passed on, made each one 

 more certain that some disaster had befallen them. 



Two brass howitzers were also carried to the prairie to fire the 

 usual salutes. When the procession reached Fort Nisqually, they 

 stopped, gave three cheers, and waited, sailor-like, until it was re- 

 turned. This was done by only a few voices, a circumstance which 

 did not fail to produce many jokes among the seamen. On reaching 

 the ground, various games occupied the crew, while the officers also 

 amused themselves in like manner. At the usual hour, dinner was 

 piped, when all repaired to partake of the barbecue. By this time, the 

 Indians had gathered from all quarters, and were silently looking on 

 at the novel sight, and wistfully regarding the feast which they saw 

 going on before them. At this time the salute was fired, when one of 

 the men, by the name of Whitehorn, had his arm most dreadfully 



