Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/429



SNAKE COUNTRY EXPEDITION, 1824 387

We sent word to the camp to come and begin trade as fol- lows : First, Flat. ; 2d P., etc., as in order above.

Tuesday 30. About 10 o'clock the Flatheads in a body mounted, arrived, chanting the song of peace. At a little distance they halted and saluted the fort with discharges from their guns. We returned the compliment with our brass pounder. The reverbating sound had a fine effect. The head chief advanced and made a fine speech welcoming the white man to these lands, apologizing for having but few beaver. The cavalcade then moved up. The chiefs were invited to the house to smoke. All the women arrived on horseback loaded with provisions and a brisk trade began which lasted till dark. The result was, 324 beaver, 154 bales of meat, 159 buffalo tongues, etc.

December, Wednesday 1. The Pend' Orielles arrived in the manner of those of yesterday and traded as follows : 198 beaver, 8 muskrat, etc.

Received 2000 of the Snake Freemen's 40 beaver today and sent off canoe to Spokane House.

Thursday 2d. Employed with Freemen and Indians all day. At night we had received 2000 more of Snake beaver.

Friday 3d. The Kootenais accompanied by 10 Piegans came up, with the same ceremony and traded as follows : 494 beaver, 509 muskrat, 2 red foxes, 3 mink, etc. The Kootenais do not belong here but are driven from fear of the Piegans and Blackfeet.

The trouble of this part is now over till spring as the In- dians have gone home. In all we have traded 1183 beaver, 14 otter, 529 muskrat, 8 fishers, 3 minks, 1 martin, 2 foxes, 11,072 pounds dried meat, etc. (Buffalo meat.)

The trade hardly averages 3 skins per Indian.

Sunday, December 5. Began to equip the Freemen today. Mr. Ogden settling their accounts. Mr. Dears in the Indian shop with Interpreter Rivett, and myself with Mr. McKay 41 in the equipment shop.

40 That is, the skins taken by the free hunters that were a part of the expedi- tion in distinction from the engaged men or employees of the company.

41 Probably Mr. Thos. McKay, son of Alex. McKay, of the Pac. Fur Co., whose widow became the wife of Dr. John McLoughlin.