INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
409 
Hudson’s Bay Companjq and the most intelligent free trappers of Oregon, had satisfied me 
that none such existed in the country. During an examination of the lower Yakima, however, 
the old Indian guide who accompanied me pointed out, on the left bank, a work which may 
possibly be considered as belonging to the same system, although being, so far as is known, 
a solitary one, it is somewhat questionable. 
The work consists of two concentric circles of earth about three feet high, with a ditch be¬ 
tween. Within are about twenty cellars situated without apparent design, except economy of 
room. They are some thirty feet across and three feet deep, and the whole circle eighty 
yards in diameter. We had no time to examine it more particularly, and no tools to excavate. 
The ground was overgrown with artemisia bushes, but, except the firm of the work, there was 
nothing to attract particular attention, or lead to the belief that it was the remains of any other 
than a Yakima village. Our guide, however, who was great authority on such matters, de¬ 
clared that it was made very long ago, by men of whom his people knew nothing. He added 
that there was no other like it. It is well posted for defence in Indian warfare, being on the 
edge of a terrace about fifteen feet high, a short distance from the river, and flanked on either 
side by a gully. 
Outside of the circle, but quite near it, are other cellars unenclosed, and in no way differing 
from the remains of villages frequently met with there. The Indian also pointed out, near by, 
a low hill or spur, which in form might be supposed to resemble an inverted canoe, and which 
he said was a ship. It deserves investigation, at least, whether any relation can be traced be¬ 
tween the authors of this and of the mounds in Sacramento valley, yet occupied by existing 
tribes. In this connexion may also be mentioned a couple of modern fortifications erected by the 
Yakimas upon the Simkwe fork. They are situated between two small branches upon the sum¬ 
mit of a narrow ridge, some two hundred yards long, and thirty feet in height, and are about 
twenty-five yards apart. The first is a square, with rounded corners, formed by an earthen 
embankment capped with stones, the interstices between which serve for loop-holes, and with¬ 
out any ditch. It is about thirty feet on the sides, and the wall three feet high. The other 
is built of adobes in the form of a rectangle, twenty by thirty-four feet, the walls three feet 
high and twelve to eighteen inches thick, with loop-holes six feet apart. Both are com¬ 
manded within rifle-shot by neighboring hills. They were erected in 1847, by Sldoo, as a de¬ 
fence against the Cayuses. We did not learn whether they were successfully maintained, 
accounts varying greatly on this subject. In the same neighborhood we noticed small piles 
of stones raised by the Indians on the edges of the basaltic walls which enclose these val¬ 
leys, but were informed that they had no purpose—they were put up through idleness. Simi¬ 
lar piles are, however, sometimes erected to mark the fork of a trail. At points on these walls 
there were also many graves, generally made in regular form, covered with loose stones to pro¬ 
tect them from the cayotes, and marked by poles decorated with tin cups, powder-horns, and 
articles of dress. During the summer the Indians, for the most part, live in the small valleys 
lying well into the foot of the mountains. These are, however, uninhabitable during the winter, 
and they move farther down, or to more sheltered situations. The mission, which in summer is 
maintained in the Atahnam valley, is transferred into that of the main river. There are two 
priests attached to this mission, belonging to the order of the Oblats, Fathers Pandozy and 
d’Harbomey. The stations are small log buildings, divided into a chapel and lodging-room, 
with a corral for horses and a spot of enclosed garden ground adjoining the one at Atahnam. 
The fathers informed us that they found the Yakimas not very teachable, and that they had 
accomplished little except as peacemakers; the Indians were lazy and cultivated the ground 
with but little regularity, some years not planting at all. They did not believe that a resident 
farmer would be of use. The Indians, however, say, and justly, that they have no tools, and 
but little inducement to labor, their country affording other subsistence, and the toil of planting 
with their own rude implements not being compensated by I he result. With proper encourage- 
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