WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 3G9 



of the death of his wife. These men afterwards returned with a horse 

 and some smaller presents from the medicine-man, which he had paid 

 to save his life. 



This rule equally applies to the whites who prescribe for Indians, an 

 instance of which occurred a short time before our arrival, when Mr. 

 Black, a chief trader in one of the northern posts, was shot dead in his 

 own room by an Indian to whose parent (a chief) he had been cha- 

 ritable enough to give some medicine. The chief died soon after taking 

 it, and Mr. Black paid the forfeit of his kindness with his life. The 

 deed was done in a remarkably bold and daring manner. The Indian 

 went to the fort and desired to see Mr. Black, saying he was sick and 

 cold. He was allowed to enter, and Mr. Black had a fire made for 

 him, without any suspicion of his intentions. On his turning his back, 

 however, towards the Indian, he was instantly shot, and fell dead on 

 his face, when the man made his escape from the fort before any 

 suspicions were excited of his being the murderer. 



To Mr. Black the world is indebted for the greater part of the geo- 

 graphical knowledge which has been published of the country west of 

 the Rocky Mountains ; and he not only devoted much of his time to 

 this subject, but also to the making of many collections in the other 

 departments of natural history, as well as in geology and mineralogy. 



I remained at Vancouver till the morning of the 17th, and passed 

 these few days with much pleasure in the company of the gentlemen 

 of the fort, of whose attentions and great kindness I shall long enter- 

 tain a grateful remembrance. 



Mr. Waldron now joined me from Astoria, without bringing any 

 news of the Peacock or tender. I did not think it worth while to wait 

 any longer their coming, when I had so much duty to perform else- 

 where. After completing orders for Captain Hudson, I determined to 

 return. Plumondon was sent to the Willamette Falls for Mr. Drayton, 

 as I desired to have some consultation with him before my departure. 



The day before I left the fort, Mr. Ogden informed me that he had 

 made arrangements to take me as far as the Cowlitz Farm in his boat, 

 on my way to Nisqually, and desired that I would allow Mr. Drayton 

 to accompany him up the river as far as Wallawalla. To both of 

 these arrangements I readily assented. 



During my stay at Vancouver, I frequently saw Casenove, the chief 

 of the Klackatack tribe. He lives in a lodge near the village of Van- 

 couver, and has always been a warm friend of the whites. He was 

 once lord of all this domain. His village was situated about six miles 

 below Vancouver, on the north side of the river, and, within the last 

 fifteen years, was quite populous : he then could muster four or five 



vol. iv. 47 



