THE MONGOLIAN RACE. 



41 



dent that the rifle was much dreaded in this vicinity. After leaving 

 the river, three mounted natives were seen, making off at a rapid 

 rate." The horses had doubtless been derived from some tradinjj 

 party, and were the only ones seen on the route. " The mistletoe 

 was abundant, and in many instances, formed the only foliage on the 

 trees. 28th. Some natives again were heard shouting. Encamped 

 at the base of the Shasty or Boundary Ridge, which very nearly 

 coincides with the forty-second parallel of latitude, or the political 

 boundary between Oregon and California. Another trading party 

 had been defeated at this place, and compelled to return. On the 

 following day, however, the ridge was crossed without seeing natives." 

 The further continuation of this journey will be found noticed in the 

 account of the Californians. 



It is known that the Mexican annals derive the origin of the Az- 

 tecas (the intrusive Mexicans) from the North, in the direction of 

 Oregon. The connexion may not be easily traced; but a coinci- 

 dence has been spoken of, in the occurrence of the terminal ' tl,' so 

 characteristic of the Mexican language, among the Nootka people. I 

 remarked that the same termination was common with the Chinooks ; 

 and I heard it even in the Nisqually tribe. The lateral fringe to the 

 trousers, universal in Oregon, is known to occur among the abori- 

 ginal Mexicans; with whom, moreover, it is said to subserve the pur- 

 pose of an inventory.* The fashion, aboriginal with the Oregon 

 females, of wearing the hair in two lateral braids, is also widely dif- 

 fused in Spanish America; and we observed it even in Chili. The 

 use of masks, which is also common to Mexico and the Northwest 

 maritime tribes, will be adverted to hereafter. And further, a distinct 

 correspondence in style of art, is traceable, between the ancient paint- 

 ings and sculptures of Mexico and Yucatan, and the carved stone 

 pipes of Northwest America. Another fact not irrelevant to the point 

 in question, is the observation made by the missionaries; that the 

 tribes of Interior Oregon, are at this day "all pressing graduallj^ to- 

 wards the South. "t 



It was only after leaving the country, that I learned the existence 

 of sculptured rocks, on the banks of the Columbia. Mr. Drayton 

 was unable to remain many moments at the spot, and among a con- 



* See Basil Hall's Travels. f See Ethnography of the Expedition, p. 224. 



11 



