Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/246

192 or some bit of writing from his hand. Something of what David Thompson wrote in his journal (now to be seen at Toronto, Canada) and thus actually recorded while here at Kettle Falls one hundred years ago this very week will serve as an introduction to him personally. His journal reads:

1811—

June 29 Saturday A very fine day—but cloudy—finished the Canoe to 1 Board in each Side &c—All the Timber of the other Canoe got burnt by neglect. Paquia & 2 Indians come from Jaco. they bring the sad news of the death of Dejarlaix. his Wife and 4 Children, also of the same of Paquia's Wife and Child by Water in a Rapid of the Saleesh River with all their Property, only Paquia and themselves escaped—the Indians speared 6 Salmon, they gave us 2 do. they carry the aversion they know the Salmon to have to the taste of the Water in which Men, & Animals, & especially the Salmon themselves have been washed to Superstition, they did (not) begin spearing 'till near Noon, as the Spearer had seen the Bones of a Dog's Head long since dead, to have speared fish with such unclean Eyes would have driven all the Salmon away, & he purified himself with a decoction of the scraped Bark of the Red Thorn, thus cleansed he proceeded to work—the Salmon are about 15 to 25 to 30 lbs. weight here, well tasted, but have lost all their fat, retaining still all their Meat, their flesh is red and extremely well made.

June 30th Sunday A fine cool, cloudy day, in the afternoon begins Rain—they speared 11 Salmon, gave us 3 do. one a very fine do. finished the Boards of the Canoe and rested the rest of the Day.

July 1 Monday A very fine day—Men went for Gum, which they gathered and made and gummed a very small part of the Canoe I Salmon, engaged Bellaire as Hunter &c—Sent Vallade to Jaco—Gave the Horses to the care of the Chief here—& killed one for Food.