Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/109

Rh wrapped the body of a warrior in his clothing, and with his mats, placed it in his own canoe, which they placed in some conspicuous point, on the shore of the river on the island, covered it with split plank and loaded it down with stone, so the wolves and other animals could not get at it. All property of the dead was also put into the canoe. To rob a grave is a very great crime. The island was called "Coffin Island," because there were so many of the canoes of their dead on it. As we went on shore to camp here, we went to a house, and got some wappato a root much eaten by the Indians.

November 5—We continued down the river. The banks became broken and heavily timbered as far down as Tongue Point, where we encamped in sight of Fort George, and overlooking the sea. The next day we went to Fort George, or "Astoria," and were well received.

A tree near the fort had recently fallen. Some said it was forty-seven feet in circumference, and others said seven fathoms. I do not think either exaggerated.

November 8—We went over the hills to Young's Bay, where Lewis and Clark wintered, calling their camp "Clatsop Camp." We saw many enormous trees, two hundred feet high and from forty to fifty feet in girth. In fact, everything, even to the brakes, were of gigantic size. Still the potatoes on the clearing near the fort were small, and the soil looked poor.

November 9—We got a yawl and a man to sail it, and crossed over to Chinook Point on the east, encamped, and at low tide went three miles around the point to the seashore. I urged the men to go with me, but all declined. So I went alone to look on the broad Pacific, with nothing between me and Japan. Standing on the brink of the great Pacific, with the waves washing my feet, was the happiest hour of my long journey. There I watched until the sun sank beneath the water. Then by the light of the moon, I returned to camp, feeling I had not crossed the continent in vain.

November 11—We began returning slowly up the river. The Indians we found always peaceable, these traders having had the good sense and tact to keep them so, by always keeping faith and a good understanding with them. That day we went but five miles, keeping along the south shore. In the evening we were visited by Indians in a friendly way.

November 16—We arrived at Fort Vancouver, to learn that one of our twelve had died. He had stood the hardships of the journey well. He ate heartily at supper of pease, which gave him colic, of which he died before morning. It seemed very hard to us, who had borne so much.

The next day Mr. Wyeth and myself were invited by Doctor McLoughlin, the oldest partner and nominal governor, to his own table