Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/132

 not do by flight, and without hesitation I went backwards six paces and cocked my gun, and then pulled from my belt one of my pistols, which I held in my left hand. I was determined to fight for my life. As I as much as possible endeavoured to preserve my coolness and perhaps did so, I stood eight or ten minutes looking at them and they at me without a word passing, till one at last, who seemed to be the leader, made a sign for tobacco, which I said they should get on condition of going and fetching me some cones. They went, and as soon as out of sight I picked up my three cones and a few twigs, and made a quick retreat to my camp, which I gained at dusk. The Indian who undertook to be my last guide I sent off, lest he should betray me. Wood of the pine fine and very heavy; leaves short, in five, with a very short sheath bright green; cones, one 14½ inches long, one 14, and one 13½, and all containing fine seed. A little before this the cones are gathered by the Indians, roasted on the embers, quartered, and the seeds shaken out, which are then dried before the fire and pounded into a sort of flour, and sometimes eaten round. How irksome a night is to such a one as me under my circumstances! Cannot speak a word to my guide, not a book to read, constantly in expectation of an attack, and the position I am now in is lying on the grass with my gun beside me, writing by the light of my Columbian candle—namely, a piece of wood containing rosin.

This description is from John Kirk Townsend's Narrative of a Journey Across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River. He made this journey as a member of Wyeth's party in 1834, and spent three months around the Columbia river, collecting specimens wherever possible. He was 25 years old at the time. “Among his discoveries in the Western United States were the Sage thrasher, Townsend solitaire, hermit, Audobon and Townsend warblers, Townsend blue bird, Harris woodpecker,” and others.