Page:Journal of John H. Frost, 1840-42 part 1.pdf/23

72 ensuing winter. At about the time that the salmon commenced running up the river, an indian hunter brougt an elk into the camp and as food was scarce among them at them at that time, the head man invited all hands to his house to partake of elk; and amongst the guests assembled, there was an indian who had been for some time in a declining state. He partook with the rest, and after the repast was ended, he returned home before the other members of the family with whom he lived; and having received from the hunter, who had compassion on him because he was sick, a piece of the elk, before going to the general repast, he on his return put it on sticks according to their custom, and set it up before the fire to roast, while he at the same time lay down, and fell into a sound sleep. Sometime after which, his own sister, with whom he lived and the other inmates of the lodge returning, and finding him breathing hard and frequently groaning, they immediately set up a cry, and said that the man was dying; when all hands decided that he must be buried without delay; for if he should lay dead above ground the salmon would all leave the river and they would have no food.

So some of them went in haste to Br. S's house and asked his wife to lend their shovel that they might bury the dying man; upon this intelligence Mrs. Smith who is a clatsop woman, but who has been converted to Christianity, arose, and went to the lodge to see what was actually the condition of the man; and after she arrived there she found the man soundly sleeping, and probably, because of eating a very hearty supper, and having been sick for some time, felt somewhat uneasy, and consequently breathed strangely and at the same time groaned. Being satisfied that the man was not as near his end as they imagined, she endeavoured to persuade them to desist from their purpose to bury him, at least until morning, when if he died they would bury him. She also spoke to them of the horror and wickedness of burying a man alive. But all would not do. The man was dying, and if he should lay dead above ground they would get no salmon. Buried he must be. So they rolled him up in his blanket and mat, as is their custom, his sister being foremost in the business, and one shouldered and caried him to the place where they were to bury him; and when they arrived at the