Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/164



146 T. C. ELLIOTT

Before us and apparently in the river rises the most formidable mountain (Mt. Hood) we have seen. The country ahead is clothed with forest to the river side which has not been the case before and the western horizon is covered by a dense cloud denoting the region of constant rain during the winter. 25th Made this day 6 miles and passed the great dalles similar to the small ones which we passed yesterday but still narrower being 75 feet about in width. Through this pass we went with an unloaded boat at an immense speed the goods and baggage were carried past on the backs of my men and some Indians hired for that purpose. My men not being good boat- men and timorous I hired Indians to work ours through going with them myself to learn the way. During part of this day we had a fair wind the river still W. by S. Here we saw plenty of grey headed seals. We bought some bear meat from the Indians which we found very fine. We encamped for the first time on the river among timber among which I saw a kind of oak and ash. Indians plenty. One chief at whose lodge we stopped a short time gave me some molasses obtained from (the) fort below to eat. He had a large stock of dried fish for the winter, 4 tons I should think, roots &c. He was dressed in the English stile, blue frock coat pants & vest, com- ported himself with much dignity enquired my name partic- ularly and repeated it over many times to impress it on his memory. His sister was the squaw of an American of the name of Bache who established a post on the river below the great dalles three years ago last fall and who was drowned in them with u others the following spring. The remains of the fort I saw as also the grave of the woman who died this fall and was buried in great state with sundry articles such as capeau, vest, pantaloons, shirt, &c. A pole with a knob at the top is erected over her remains. At the foot of the Dalles is an island called the Isle of the Dead on which there are many sepulchers. These Indians usually inter their dead on the Islands in the most romantic situations where the souls of the dead can feast themselves with the roar of the mighty and