Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/277

 John Work's Journey to Umpqua River, 1834 255 tween our camp & its discharge into the Umquah which is about half way to the Vervor. The road then lies along the N bank of the Umquah which may be about 80 yds wide. No stones worth mentioning all the way ; the river runs on a bed of soft slatey rock. The soil rich and clothed with fine pasture. A narrow valley runs along the north side of the river. Here is a most luxuriant growth of fern mixed with grass, clover, vegetables & flowers. The plain which may be from % to i/ 2 mile wide is bounded to the N by a range of bare hills with trees along their tops, and several rivulets intersect it on their way to the river. Joe the master of the only house that is here has a small patch of potatoes which appear in a most healthy & thriving condition. Some of the pines in the woody part of the country are of very large size. [203] We had put up close by the House in the grass for the night and had supper, but as there was an appearance of heavy rain Joe invited us to take shelter under his roof which we reluctantly did as we dread being infested with fleas. In other respects except the excess- ive heat of the house our quarters are very comfortable but a scarcity of provisions prevails here at the present season. This Joe is a noted character among the natives by whom he is much feared, as the life of a fellow creature is held in little estimation by him. He has seven wives now in the house with him which is said to be but half of the number he possesses. He appears attentive to us. There are five packs of beaver here which Michell left, besides 2 belonging to his men. Joe it appears has also about a pack to trade. Here I received a letter from Mr. Laframboise addressed to Mr. C. F. MLoughlin dated 17th of April last. He & his party were then all well- shortly previous to that date he had had a battle with the Indians on the S side of the Umquah mountain in which 11 of the [204] savages were slain & several wounded. None of the whites had received any hurt. The cause of