NISQUALLY AND COLUMBIA RIVER. 323 



planks and joists, about fifteen feet in length, set with one end in the 

 ground, to protect them from attack. 



The Indians of this region even now make war upon each other on 

 the most trivial occasion, and for the most part to satisfy individual 

 revenge. The Hudson Bay Company's officers possess and exert a 

 most salutary influence, endeavouring to preserve peace at all hazards. 

 It is now quite safe for a white man to pass in any direction through 

 the part of the country where their posts are, and in case of accident 

 to any white settler, a war-party is at once organized, and the offender 

 is hunted up. About a year previous to our arrival, an Indian was 

 executed at Astoria for the murder of a white man, whom he had 

 found asleep, killed, and stolen his property. 



He was taken, tried, found guilty, and executed in the presence of 

 most of the settlers. The culprit was a slave, and it was some time 

 before the chief to whom he belonged would give him up. It was 

 proved on the trial, and through the confession of the slave, that he 

 had stolen the property and committed the murder by order of his 

 master, who took all the stolen goods. The master made his escape 

 when he found his agency had been discovered ; and I understood that 

 he kept himself aloof from all the Company's posts, until the matter 

 should be forgotten. 



As the tide had risen so much as to render it difficult to walk along 

 the beach, we returned to Mr. Frost's in a crazy canoe, and were very 

 near being upset. Had this accident happened, it must have proved 

 fatal to some of us in the strong tide that was running ; we therefore 

 felt much relieved to get again to the beach. After partaking of Mrs. 

 Frost's good cheer, we returned to Astoria, much pleased with our 

 day's jaunt. 



On the Clatsop beach, we saw a great number of dead fish. Mr. 

 Birnie informed me, that they were thrown up in great numbers during 

 the autumn; and were supposed to be killed by a kind of worm, gene- 

 rated in their stomachs. 



On the 28th, the Company's barques Cowlitz and Columbia were in 

 sight : the former bound for Oahu, the latter for Sitka. By the former, 

 we sent letters for home. 



Our Indians having recovered from their fatigue, I resolved to pro- 

 ceed with Mr. Drayton to Vancouver, leaving Mr. Waldron to await 

 the arrival of the Peacock, and to recruit from his sickness. We 

 embarked at noon, having Mr. Birnie with us, to join the vessels above. 

 We soon found ourselves in much more sea and wind than our canoe 

 could bear ; and, by Plumondon's advice, took in our sail, and made 

 for Tongue Point as quickly as we could. He deemed it much too 



