Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/272



264 JASON LEE

Monday, September 22. Come along the river, or a little distance from it, about 12 miles to Mr. Jarvie's. Called at the houses of the inhabitants, who were very glad to see us. Most of the men are Canadians with native wives. The land seems very good, but the season has been too dry. The crops in this plain have been better than those lower down the river. Here we found Mr. Smith teaching half breeds. He is an American who came from Boston with Capt. Wyeth. At sup- per we were treated with a fine dish of Canadian soup, ex- cellent pork, and beaver, and bread made of flour without bolt- ing, and as fine muskmelons as I ever tasted. Our tent was pitched in the melon bed and we slept there found it very convenient in the morning.

Tuesday, September 23. Started early this morning and rode some three or four miles up the river to examine the land. Found an excellent place for a farm above all the settlers. Re- turned to the lower farms and went on foot three miles to see a plain where Capt. Wyeth has chosen a farm.

Wednesday, September 24. Prairie du Sable on the bank of the Willamette. Fog dense cannot see a man two rods. Good health, plenty of food, etc., but my mind is greatly exer- cised with regard to the place of location. Could I but know the identical place that the Lord designs for us, be it where it may, even a thousand miles in the interior, it would be a matter of great rejoicing. O, My God, direct us to the right spot where we can best glorify thee and be most useful to these degraded red men. P. M. Did not find the horses till nearly noon. Came about 11 or 12 miles and are on a beautiful prairie, but know not the distance to the river. This plain would, I think, make a fine farm, but it is probably too far from the river. There are 30 Indians, old and young, a few rods from us, and some of the men are as naked as they were born a filthy, miserable-looking company, and yet they are quite contented. They subsist mostly on cammas. Probably

more than [ ] in this vicinity have fallen a sacrifice to the

fever and ague within four years.