Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/61



JOURNAL OF DAVID THOMPSON 53

have much snow in places. S. 33 W. l# m, S. 5 W. \ l / 2 m, (y 2 m of Co. gone) put up at 6 P. M. on the left among high rude lands, Steep on the right, the early part of the day was strong rapids. Walked part of the way, up a high bank etc. Part fine current, latter part again very strong R current and strong whirlpools. Observed for latitude, longi- tude, etc.

July 7th 14, Sunday. A fine day but cloudy morning. At 7 A. M. set off. Co. S. 5 E. 1 m + 1 m, S. 28 E. 2 m, + Y-Z m. Beginning of Co. to the So-d see high rocky mountains 15 bending to the south-d. Saw band of horsemen from a brook going downwards. S. 35 E. ^4 m, S. 78 E. 1*4 m, N. 80 E. l l / 4 m, R. C. N. 82 E. 1 m, do rude rock 16 in one end. East 1 m, S. R. C., walked, embarked and (crossed?) to two horsemen, stayed about l / 2 hour smoking, then Co. S. 65 E. 1 m to the rapid, S. 50 E. 1 m. At middle of course S. 65 E. 1 m we came to a large band of Indians at Wy 2 A. M. and stayed with them till 1^4 P- M. They received us all dancing in their huts, one of which was about 80 yards long and the other 20 yards do. there were about 120 families. I invited them to smoke and the 5 most respectable men ad- vanced and smoked a few pipes. We asked them to invite the others which they readily did but it was 20' before we could get them to all sit down. They put down their little presents of berries, roots, etc., and then continually kept bless- ing us and wishing us all manner of good visiting them, with clapping their hands and extending them to the skies. When any of us approached their ranks they expressed their good will and thanks with outstretched arms and words, followed by a strong whistling aspiration of breath. I discoursed awhile

14 During this day he descends a dangerous part of the river a distance of about 65 miles and camps for the night near the mouth of Crab Creek, where the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. now crosses the river. He takes on a guide of the Shahaptin family as the tribes of the Salishan stock do not reside further down the Columbia and presumably his Sans Foil Indians (husband and wife probably) return home. This new guide stays with him until he passed Celilo, where the tribes of the Chinookan stock are found.

15 The Wenatchee mountains, the same seen the night before; the brook next mentioned is the Wenatchee river.

1 6 Bishop's Rock above Rock Island Rapids; he walks around these rapids, then crosses to the other side for another "smoke" and at 1 145 P. M. walks around Cabinet Rapids below and embarks.