Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/182

128 The river abounds in fish and muscles, which they take in great quantity; but I suspect they are not sufficiently skilful to capture those of larger dimensions, which we noticed incessantly leaping; probably sturgeon, or a fish resembling it very closely.

Elk and deer were tolerably plentiful; the former are easily taken, and the profusion of antlers found at the Rancherias prove their capture in fair quantity.

The pilot, a native, converted and retained by the mission, informed us that the banks throughout our whole route were once thickly studded with these Rancherias, and with natives to possess them. They are now nearly extinct, and individuals of the tribes are only to be found in the mission.

Let not theorists too eagerly advance the opinion, that the introduction of foreigners depopulates whole tracts. A higher power has operated here.

It is probable that the hunters and Delawares which frequent these grounds, may have in some measure caused them to shift their ground. It is also known that they have most valorously contended even against the rifle, and suffered slaughter rather than retreat, generally severely and fatally wounding their adversaries. These are traditions. Of the mortal sickness which scourged the Columbia and its tribes, as far south as the Colorado in one year, and even penetrated to the rocky mountains, we have the most perfect evidence. The later visitation of