Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/35



THE INDIAN OF THE NORTHWEST 27

that part I have understood that they could not purchase a skin, as Wicananish was making up a quantity he owed and had likewise made a promise to the person he was in debt to to keep all the skins for him over and above the sum due, that he collected."

Fraser 134 records that the Atnahs brought to Mr. Quesnil a pistol which he lost while out riding. He says that while many things were left loose and scattered about in such a manner as to afford all opportunity to the natives, nothing went astray. He cached most of his goods and put away his canoes in the presence of the Indians. Then he 135 made another cache, unknown to the natives. The latter was torn open by wild animals; the natives saved what they could for him. 136 The articles in the caches left in their charge were safe, for Indians had continually attended to their safety during his absence. Another cache was kept safe by another tribe, though the keepers were on the verge of starvation. "They deserved much credit for abstaining," he 137 says. He rewarded the keeper, who immediately divided with all his tribe. Once on his trip two Indians overtook him 138 with a piece of iron his men had forgotten ; and iron was like gold to them. At another point, as he 139 was coming back up the river, natives restored to him various articles which had been lost in the wreck of a canoe going down. Espinosa 140 writes of the exactness with which all the Indians fulfil their contracts. He relates that Natzapa, on Vancouver Island, asked sundry individuals of the packet San Carlos for sheets of copper and other objects on credit to take to the Nuchiwases and obtain skins. "He had the misfortune to upset his canoe. He lost his wife, whom he loved dearly, his own property, also that of the other people which he was taking. It would seem that in such sad circum- stances he might easily have excused himself from paying his

1 34 Journal: p. 167.

1 35 Journal: 167.

1 36 Journal: 215.

137 Journal: 219.

138 Journal: 184. 1 38 Journal: 184.

140 Sutil y Mexicans : p. 155.