Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/130



Away back, long before the white man had seen the Pacific Coast or even America; before history in this country began, and when vague legendry filled its place, and current events were handed down from generation to generation by dim traditions; and when, as the Indians say, the gorge of the Columbia through the Cascade Mountains was much narrower than it is now, a part of the huge mountain fell into and dammed up the great river. But ere long" the impetuous water forced its way through and under the fallen mountain, leaving a natural bridge spanning the river. Unnumbered ages passed, when an earthquake came, causing the earth to shake, the mountains to totter, and causing the bridge to fall into the river, filling its channel with masses of stone and forming an obstruction to navigation now known as the "Fall," or "Cascades of the Columbia." As far back as Indian tradition goes, the Cascades of the Columbia have been an important point on account of the break in navigation, making a portage of everything carried in boats an absolute necessity.

Its importance was greatly increased by the extensive fishing grounds made by the "long narrows," and rapid current of the river at that place, enabling the Indians with spear and scoop-net to capture vast quantities of salmon, which made them an easy living, as well as an article of great value in trade with other tribes. The village of Wish-ram at the head of the falls was a mart of trade. Irving said: "These Indians were shrewder and more intelligent than other Indians. Trade had sharpened their wits, but had not improved their honesty, for they were a community of arrant rogues and freebooters." They took every possible advantage the