SOUTHERN OREGON. 233 



surprised by a party of Indians, who shot a flight of arrows over him ; 

 he at once sprang to his horse, seized his rifle, and, according to his 

 own account, killed one of them. The utmost haste was necessary to 

 effect his escape, and he left his game behind. 



Towards night, a canoe with two Indians approached the camp, 

 which they were not suffered to enter. These canoes were dug out 

 square at each end, and quite rude. 



In the morning they found within their camp an Indian basket with 

 roots, which they supposed to have been left there during the night by 

 some Indian whose curiosity was so great as to induce him to peril his 

 life to satisfy it. 



The 26th, they passed along the banks of the Rogues' river, which 

 runs on in a westerly direction ; upon it the Indians were seen spear- 

 ing salmon from their canoes. 



Within a short distance of their camping-place, they came upon a 

 party of about fifty Indians, who seemed to be surprised that their 

 hiding-place had been discovered. They appeared to be unarmed, 

 and looked very innocent. 



During the day, their course was northeasterly, along the banks of 

 the river. About a mile from the camp, granite of a light colour and 

 a fine grain, that would serve as a beautiful building-stone, was seen 

 in places. As they proceeded, the valley of the river was encroached 

 upon by the mountains, and the ground became very much broken. 

 The river, also, flowed in rapids, owing to the same cause, and its 

 banks became projecting and jagged rocks. A place was pointed out 

 where a former party had been attacked and defeated with great loss, 

 in consequence of the Indians being able to conceal themselves behind 

 the rocks. Our party found no one to oppose their passage. In the 

 afternoon they reached the forks, and took the southern one, which 

 brought them to Turner's encampment, where his party were attacked, 

 and most of them massacred. They had allowed the Indians to enter 

 the camp in numbers, when they suddenly rose upon the whites, who 

 were but nine in all, and were, at the time of the attack, attending to 

 the horses. Two of the party were killed immediately. Turner, who 

 was a strong athletic man, was seated by the fire when the fray began ; 

 he snatched up a brand, and defended himself, dealing destruction 

 around him, until his wife brought him his rifle, with which he killed 

 several. A large fallen tree lies near the spot, at one end of which 

 Turner stood, while the Indians occupied the other, and whence, as- 

 sisted by his wife, he made such havoc among them, that they at last 

 retreated, and allowed Turner and his wounded companions to make 

 good their retreat to the north. The}' returned to Willamette with the 



vol. v. U 2 30 



