Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/106



An itinerary of the journey of the explorers of the southern immigrant road to Oregon would hardly be in place here. It is sufficient to know that they discovered and opened a route to Fort Hall, which they induced a part of the immigration to follow; and that misfortunes overtook the travelers on this, as well as the northern route, owing partly to neglect of discipline, and partly X also to early storms encountered in the canon of the Ump- qua. Such things must be where large companies invade the wilderness without sufficient forethought. The worst of all was the animosity religiously cherished by those who suffered in person and property against those who meant to do them and the colony a favor. Those who got into Oregon any way they could had only themselves to blame for their troubles; but those who were shown a way which was not after all safe from accident, were tempted to cast the blame of their misfortunes upon their guides. As to depredations by the natives, they were unavoidable in whatsoever direction lay the route of travel. The In dians of the Humboldt valley, and the Modoc and Klamath " countries, were troublesome, lying in ambush and shooting their poisoned arrows at men and animals. This led to retaliation, and several Indians and two white jnen were killed in skirmishes. It was raising up enemies for the future, whose hatred would have to be washed out in blood. Fortunate was it that at that time these Indians were not aware of their own strength. Wild men they were who had not yet learned from traders, or missiona ries, or Indian agents, to restrain their savage impulses; nor had they learned from contact and example the art of war, which at a later period they practiced with signal success.

^ The immigration of 1846 was not large, not more than one thousand persons. It found the Oregon colony prosperous, and more quiet than the previous year on the Indian question. The presence of an English and an American war fleet in the Pacific was not unkn