Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/349

 both my hands, a difficult and tedious process, during which, as if to render my labour fruitless, it hailed heavily. When I landed my whole frame was so completely benumbed that we were under the necessity of stopping to kindle a lire, and to indulge my guides with a smoke, after which we proceeded. At night a severe pain between my shoulders and general chilliness kept me from sleeping. I rose, boiled my kettle, and made some tea, then dried my blanket, and substituted for my damp shirt a spare one, in which I had rolled by plants; but feeling no better, and being unfortunately without medicine, I started on foot at a little before 4, and driving the horses before me, got into a profuse perspiration which considerably relieved my suffering.

Near this spot was an Indian burying ground, certainly one of the most curious I had yet seen. All the property of the deceased was here deposited near their graves, their implements, garments, and gambling articles. Even the favourite horse of the deceased is not spared; it is customary to shoot the animal with a bow and arrow, and suspend his skin, with the hoofs and skull, just above the remains of his master. On the trees which are around the burying place, small bundles may be seen, tied up in the same manner as the provisions which they carry when traveling. I could not learn whether this was intended as food for the dead or propitiary offerings to the divinities. Within the grave the body is placed in a sitting posture, with the knees touching the chin, and the arms folded across the chest. It is difficult to gain any information on these subjects, as nothing seems to hurt the feelings of these people so much as alluding to their departed friends.

Thursday, the 11th. At 7 this morning we gained the summit of the last range of hills that lie between the Columbia and Spokan rivers, and beheld one of the most