THE MONGOLIAN RACE. 



35 



only large quadruped we saw, was a solitary wolf. Antelopes, how- 

 ever, are occasionally procured by the natives. Notwithstanding 

 therefore, the ' moccasin,' and original ' buckskin pantaloon,' the 

 Oregon natives hardly merit the name of hunting tribes : neither, 

 indeed, can they strictly be termed wanderers. Salmon forms their 

 principal resource, eked out with kamas and other roots, so that a 

 certain round becomes necessary in procuring subsistence ; but a tribe 

 always occupies the same station at the same season of the year.* 

 Since the introduction of horses (derived from the Spaniards of New 

 Mexico), pasturage has in some degree influenced the selection. 



A half-breed was living as a ' free trapper' with the band in ques- 

 tion; the first instance of the kind we had met with. He stated, that 

 " the party had come from the upper part of the Spokane River. Also, 

 that beaver were formerly common in all these streams, and were 

 caught by the natives by setting baskets ; but owing to the introduc- 

 tion of beaver-traps, they had become almost extinct." 



We here had some difficulty with a native about the ownership 

 of one of our horses. The introduction of new and valuable pro- 

 perty, might be expected in the absence of law, to give rise to nu- 

 merous disputes ; but whatever may be the case in dealings with 

 strangers, no difficulty, I am assured, " has ever been known to arise 

 among the natives themselves." 



On the following day we passed a similar though smaller encamp- 

 ment, but being desirous of avoiding unnecessary trouble, we did not 

 visit it. Further on, we met a party in motion, with all their horses 

 and other property. Infants, on the board, were suspended to the 

 flanks of the horses, a practice said to be " derived from the eastern 

 side of the mountains;" and the lodge-poles were disposed in such a 

 manner that one end was left trailing on the ground. Several of the 

 horses were spotted, black and wiiite, such being favourites with the 

 Oregon natives. 



On the 25th, we arrived at Lapwai, the mission establishment of 

 Mr. Spalding, situated on the Kooskoosky River. This was the first 

 stream flowing into the Western Ocean, reached by Lewis and Clarke; 

 and " the tradition of that expedition still remains among the natives; 

 of surprise at the personal appearance of the new-comers, and at the 

 sight of strong beards." Nevertheless, it was said, that " no idea of 

 difference of race, such as is recognised by Europeans, ever enters 



* See tlic Ethnography of the Expedition. 



