Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/250



242 JASON LEE

Tues. 29, 1834. Went about 3 mi. down the river fishing caught one trout only and found myself so feeble that I was very glad when I reached camp. Mr. McCay has informed his Indians what we are and our object in coming to this country and they were very much pleased indeed and more so when told there was a prospect of our locating at Wallah- wallah.

Last evening two Indians came to our tent and brought with them an interpreter who could speak but little of their language and told us they wanted to give us two horses. Being suspicious that it was their intention to pursue the course which the traders say they generally do Viz. to give a horse and then require more than its value in goods that they want I therefore told them that if they gave me horses I had very little to give them in return and they replied that they wanted nothing in return. I then told them that I would take them.

Wednes. July 30, 1834. Capt. Wyeth's Fort is not yet finished but he will be able to leave in a few days. He pur- poses to make all the speed possible and his baggage being mere nothing it is juged impossible for us to take our cows if we go with him we have therefore determined to go with Capt. McCay who will travel much more slowly.

While our brethren [were] absent catching the horses, two Indians came and presented me with two beautiful wite [white] horses. Surely the hand of Providence must be in it for they presented them because we are Missionaries and at a time when two of our horses are nearly worn out. This if I mistake not augurs well for our ultimate success among these generous red men. O Lord God hasten the hour when we shall be able to impart unto them invaluable spiritual things which will ten thousand times repay them for their temporal

things.

This Fort is in Lat. 43 14', N. but Lon. is not yet ascer- tained. It is on Lewis' Fork in an unpleasant situation being