220 SOUTHERN OREGON. 



well acquainted with the various characters of the people who were 

 settled there. They generally consist of those who have been hunters 

 in the mountains, and were still full of the recklessness of that kind 

 of life. Many of them, although they have taken farms and built 

 log houses, cannot be classed among the permanent settlers, as they 

 are ever ready to sell out and resume their old occupation, when an 

 opportunity offers. Our party found them, with one or two exceptions 

 well disposed. 



The gentlemen of the party, who had more time and opportunity 

 to become acquainted with the operations of the missionaries than I 

 had, were less favourably impressed than myself. One of the prin- 

 cipal complaints of the settlers against the members of the mission 

 was, that they never had any religious service, although several 

 ministers of the mission were unemployed. This complaint, how- 

 ever, could not be made on our part ; for, the first Sunday the party 

 was encamped, the Rev. Mr. Leslie invited them all to his house for 

 that purpose, which invitation was accepted. Tibbats, one of the 

 party, was sitting by an open window during the sermon, and, as 

 many have done before him, was nodding, in which motion he threw 

 his head back and struck the stick that supported the sash, which 

 coming down suddenly, caught him by the neck. This accident 

 occasioned no small disturbance in the congregation, but no injury 

 resulted from it to the man, who was inclined to join in the laugh 

 that unavoidably took place after he was extricated. This anec- 

 dote will show the character of the class of settlers which the mis- 

 sionaries would have to deal with, and I am inclined to believe that 

 for the neglect of duty imputed to them, those who make the charge 

 are themselves chiefly to blame. 



It was the general impression of our party, however, that the field 

 for a mission was but small, and not sufficient to warrant the ex- 

 penses that have been lavished upon it. Their school was in opera- 

 tion, and included twenty pupils in all. Dr. Babcock mentioned 

 to one of our gentlemen that he had a native boy for a servant, of 

 whose qualifications and education he spoke, saying that it was a 

 great trouble to get him into cleanly habits, such as washing his face 

 and hands in the morning, before he milked the cow. He next taught 

 him to make a fire, boil a tea-kettle, and make tea ; he then taught him 

 to fry and bake; he could wash clothes, and would in a short time be 

 able to iron. 



All our gentlemen experienced the same kind treatment and good 

 fare that I have before spoken of, and nothing seemed to be wanting 

 in the way of substantial comforts. 



