Harmon's journal. 



203 



Sunday, 16. A number of Indians have arriv- 

 ed, in six large wooden canoes, from the other end 

 of this lake ; and among them are two, a father 

 and his son, who say, that they belong to a tribe, 

 who call themselves Nate-ote-tains. These are 

 the first of that nation, whom we have ever seen 

 here. They state, that their tribe is numerous, 

 and scattered, in villages, over a large extent of 

 country, lying directly west from this ; and that it 

 is not more than five or six days' march, to their 

 nearest village. They, also, inform us, that a 

 large river passes through their country, and at 

 no considerable distance from it, enters the Pacific 

 Ocean. They, likewise, say, that a number of 

 white people come up that river, in barges, every 

 autumn, in order to trade with the Indians, who 

 reside along its shores. But I could not learn 

 from them, to what nation those white people be- 

 long. I imagine, however, that they are Ameri- 

 cans, who come round Cape Horn, to carry on, 

 what is called a coasting trade ; for, I cannot learn 

 that they ever attempted to make establishments, 

 along the sea coast. 



Tuesday, July 2. Yesterday, five Sicaunies 

 came here, from M c Leod's Lake, who form a 

 small war party. Their leader, or war chief de- 

 sired me to allow them to go where they might 

 think proper ; upon which, I inquired of them, 



