SOUTHERN OREGON. 227 



Lieutenant Emmons with some bear and deer skins, which several of 

 the party were in want of to make into shirts and trousers; Dr. 

 M'Laughlin having kindly sent Lieutenant Emmons, before he left the 

 Willamette, a letter to his agent, desiring that he would afford the 

 party all the assistance in his power. 



Lieutenant Emmons and Mr. Agate were accommodated in the 

 store, with beds made of blankets. After arranging them, Mr. Gan- 

 griere wished them good night, locked the door, put the key in his 

 pocket, and went to his lodgings. In the morning, at daylight, they 

 were released. 



The day was cold, damp, and foggy, preventing them from seeing 

 any distance from the fort. The river is here one hundred and twenty 

 yards wide, quite rapid, filled with rocks, and only navigable for 

 canoes. The soil in the vicinity is very good, producing plentiful 

 crops of corn, wheat, and potatoes. In the garden attached to the 

 fort, are grown all the common vegetables of the United States, with 

 melons, both water and musk. Cattle are said to thrive well. 



In the morning it was found that a number of the Indians had de- 

 parted, which relieved the agent's fears for himself, but increased those 

 for our party. He was satisfied that it was too small in number to 

 pass safely through, or overcome the resistance the Indians had pre- 

 pared to oppose to them. 



Few of these men seem to know the reason of the whites meeting 

 with so few mishaps in passing through an apparently hostile country ; 

 and many deem that it is owing to their own skill and prowess. The 

 truth is, that as soon as the Indians have traded with the whites, and 

 become dependent on them for supplies, thenceforward they can be 

 easily controlled. If disposed to be hostile, the fort at Umpqua would 

 offer no resistance to their attack ; but they are aware that all their 

 supplies of ammunition, tobacco, blankets, and other articles of neces- 

 sity, would be at once cut off; which would reduce them to great dis- 

 tress. They also know, that in all probability they would receive a 

 severe chastisement for such aggression, from an armed force that 

 would forthwith be sent among them. The self-interest of the Indians 

 is, therefore, the true safeguard of the white traders. 



After effecting the exchange of horses, they discovered that two of 

 those they had hobbled ihe evening before had escaped; after a three 

 hours' search, they were finally found on the back-trail, several miles 

 from the fort. About noon they set out on their return, having under 

 their escort the Indian wife of the agent, who wished to visit the camp 

 to consult the doctor. Their fresh horses enabled them to get over the 

 bad road with less difficulty than fhey had found on their way to the fort. 



