THE INTERIOR OF OREGON. 473 



in fastnesses among high mountains, to have good clothing and houses: 

 to manufacture blankets, shoes, and various other articles, which they 

 sell to the neighbouring tribes. 



Their colour is as light as that of the Spaniards ; and the women in 

 particular are very beautiful, with delicate features, and long flowing 

 hair. They are said to be very neat in their persons, dignified and 

 decorous in their manners, and exceedingly modest. The story goes, 

 that the hunters who saw them were so much pleased, that they deter- 

 mined to return and settle among them ; but on their return to the 

 Rocky Mountains, they were prevented by old associations. Some 

 have attempted to connect these with an account of an ancient Welsh 

 colony, which others had thought they discovered among the Mandans 

 of the Missouri ; while others were disposed to believe they might still 

 exist in the Monkeys of the Western Mountains. There is another 

 account, which speaks of the Monquoi Indians, who formerly inhabited 

 Lower California, and were partially civilized by the Spanish mission- 

 aries ; but who have left that country, and of whom all traces have long 

 since been lost. Perhaps some future travellers may be able to discover 

 them again, and give their true history; for that there exists a small 

 tribe of different manners and habits from those who surround them, 

 there appears to be but little doubt. 



Though not immediately allied with my subject, yet some informa- 

 tion which I obtained in relation to the Indians east of the Rocky 

 Mountains, may be interesting. Between the Green and Arkansas 

 rivers, are the Navahoes, and south of them the Apaches. These 

 hover about the Spanish settlements, which they frequently ravage, and 

 whence they carry off the children as slaves. The trappers informed 

 us, that it was no uncommon circumstance to see among them, Spanish 

 boys, still speaking their own language, serving as slaves ; and hand- 

 some white girls, living as wives to the haughty Apache warriors. 



One thing seems well established, that the tribes are gradually ex- 

 tending themselves to the southward, or rather, the more northern are 

 encroaching on those of the south. It is well known, that what is now 

 called the Blackfeet country was formerly possessed by the Snakes; 

 and that the older men of the nation are well acquainted with this 

 fact. The country now in possession of the Snakes, belonged to the 

 Bonacks, who have been driven to the Sandy Desert. The Kiniwas 

 and Camanches are instances of the same occurrence. This move- 

 ment is attributed to the desire of each tribe to possess a more fertile 

 soil and more genial climate ; and to the exhaustion of game or 

 emigration of the buffalo to the east. There are none of these animals 

 now found west of the Youta Lake ; and several years ago, according 



VOL. IV. 2P2 60 



