70 
NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY—KLAMATH INDIANS. 
ing inside, we saw .a large mound about two feet in height, the base of which covered the whole 
space enclosed by the walls. A new blanket was spread over the top. Here, doubtless,'was 
the grave of some great chief; but how the savages became possessed of the tent remains 
a mystery. Along the whole chain of Ivlamath waters we noticed, in many places, large 
stones laid one upon the other, forming piles from two to six feet in height. Some of the 
party thought that these were marks to show the trail when the ground was covered with snow; 
but tlie vast numbers of them sometimes found within a few feet of each other, and their fre¬ 
quent proximity to trees which could easily have been blazed, rendered this hypothesis rather 
improbable. 
After travelling about sixteen miles from the place where we first struck the marsh, we 
reached a part where it was not more than a mile wide. Seeing several mounted Indians 
hastily driving a number of horses across, we attempted to follow, but found the ground too 
miry for pack animals. As it was almost sundown, Lieut. Williamson decided to encamp near 
some trees on the shore. The only water was that found stagnant on the surface of the marsh. 
The grass was good, but it had been eaten quite short by the Indian horses. As we had been 
careful to do the savages no injury, they began to doubt our hostile character, and sent in a 
few squaws as an experiment. As they were dismissed with presents, large numbers of men 
entered camp, and made great professions of friendship. We distrusted them, however, and 
kept a close watch upon the animals during the night. 
August 22.—This morning many Indians came into camp. They were all well dressed in 
blankets and buckskin, and were armed with bows and arrows and a few fire-arms. Their 
intercourse with the Oregon settlements had taught many of them to speak the Chinook, or 
Jargon language, and one had a slight knowledge of English. They owned many horses, 
some of which were valuable animals. No offer would tempt them to sell any of the latter, 
although they were eager to dispose of a few miserable hacks too worthless to purchase. 
