Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/59



JOURNAL OF DAVID THOMPSON 51

in fillets around the head always appears to advantage from their brilliant white; about 60 men and women and children in proportion.

July 6th, Saturday 9. A cloudy, rainy morning. Could not embark until 6y 2 A. M. Our hosts found us early and not- withstanding the rain smoked several pipes. We then set off, after giving to the Chief a bag of bitter roots, one of w r hite ditto, and one of Estooway to take care of for us, our Course N. 80 W. */ 2 m, R., S. 35 W. 1 m, S. 5 E. 2/3 m, S. 10 W. Y-2 m, S. 30 W. % m, 50 W. y* m, S. 30 W. # m, S. 20 W. 1 m, S. 30 W. 1 m, + 1 m, all S. R. current. S. 1 m, S. W. y*, S. 30 W. 1 m, all S. R. Course N. 75 W. y m, N. 65 W. 1 m, + y 2 m, N. 50 W. y* m, N. 35 W. y 4 m, N. 10 W. 1/5 m, N. 5 E. 1 m, + 1 m, N. 35 W. 2/3 m, these 2 last courses fine view and see the high woody mountains of the Cochenawga River. 10 S. 70 W. 1^ m, N. 65 W. 1 m, S. 55 W. 1 m. This course is over flats where the water is low, we suppose to be about + l /^ m, S. 70 W. 2 m. Fine current. S. 50 W. 1 m, S. W. % m, S. 40 W. l l / 2 m. Inspaelis is the name of the tribe we left this morning, and the name of those we now arrive at is Smeeth- howe, to whom we came at 10 A. M. We put ashore. As we approached they gave several long thankful oys. I sent my Simpoil to invite them to smoke. The Chief received the message thankfully, and they began to collect a small present, having done which I again invited them and they came for- ward and sat down in a ring and began smoking without any ceremony. The women then advanced all ornamented with fillets and small feathers, dancing in a body to the tune of a mild song which they sang. When close to the men an old man directed them to sit down all round the men on the outside, with the children etc. Thus placed they smoked

9 Starting from the foot of Box Canyon and spending two hours with the Indians at the mouth of the Methow River, Mr. Thompson follows the turn of the river to the south to a camping place on the east or Douglas County, Washington, shore not far above Wenatchee; distance traveled about 75 miles.

10 The Okanogan river; he passes by it without mention because he crosses the Columbia flats almost a mile opposite the mouth of the river, and owing to misty weather probably does not notice it. Lieut. Symons' sectional maps makes these courses very clear.