Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-11-24
From the Missionary Herald for October.
JOURNAL OF MISSIONARIES ACROSS
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

Our friends must think Of Us setting on the
burning sand with cup Of tea in one hand.
and piece of dry. mouldy. sour buffalo
mea, in the other, and this for our breakfast,
dinner and supper, for days and weeks to-
gether As we drew near Wallawalla, we
heard of its beautiful cattle, its hogs, and
other fruits Of civilized life; and be assured
the anticipation Of once more getting into
my hand potatoe or crust OF bread, was no
ways favorable to my sleep at night But
on reaching the desirable haven OF rest, we
were so suddenly transported from our for
mer wild mode Of living to that of civilized
life, and so kindly treated by Mr. p clerk OF
the Hudsons Bay Company, in charge OF
this establishment, that we were made al
most to forget what we had been going
through for DAYS and weeks and months
past II seemed like dream. And even
now | cannot realize that have spent the
last spring and summer in passing the Rocky
Mountains and that am really through the
journey, and that my eyes now actually
behold the waters OF the beautiful Colum-
bia.
II was of the highest importance before
we took single step to have an interview
Will Tue Cuicl VI tue NOilildul Ot tuC
Columbia in charge at fort Vancouver, for
the purpose Of presenting our letters from
the United States Secretary Of War. learn
ing his feelings respecting our object 10 this
country, and The prospect Of supplies. Mr.
p. very kindly offered TO fit up boat and
take US down. You may very naturally
suppose. that our ladies were not much ia
tigued at the end OF their journey. and that
travelling had become almost second nature
to us. from the fact. that, arriving at the fort
Saturday in the forenoon, in the afternoon we
set about preparing for trip of three hun
dred miles down the terrible Columbia to
this place We LEFT Wallawala the 9th OF
September. in a boat propelled by six oars
men. The usual time for passage down
is five days. We were detained by head
winds and did not arrive until the l2th.-
Here we were again met with the warmeSt
expressions OF friendship BY DR. Mclaughlin
who conducted us Immediately to his house
After brief interview he conducted us 10
his gardens. and, be assured. we were not a
lutte surprised to see, west of the Rocky
Mountains, where we expected TO meet
scarcely the first buildings of civilization,
such projections in horticulture About FIVE
acres are laid out in order,siored with almost
every species Of vegetables, fruits and flow
ers; and among them figs, citrons. oranges,
lemons. pomeugranaies, coiton-planis. and all
common fruits found in the United States
Every thing produces well For some days
our time was divided between visits on the
farm, to the mills, the herds. the dairy, the
stores, the ships in the port, the school. etc
IL OF course gave US great satisfaction to
witness these fruits Of civilization. which
we supposed our eyes had looked upon for
the last time when we passed the frontier
line Of our own land DR.. McLaughlin's
farm is the largest on Columbia river, and
produced last year, $500 bushels of wheat,
1000 OF peas, ZOO of barley. 500 of oats,
potatoes not gathered, corn but little. His
horned cattle are $50. swine 400. with from
200 10 800 horses He has also saw mill
and -four mill
The Hudson's Bay Company are opposed
to the introduction of intoxicating liquors
among the Indians. and have excluded il
from all those sections of the country where
they have exclusive control over the trade
the influence of their discipline is highly
salutary. But a few years since, whenever
white man met an Indian, he met an enc
my. All the tribes OF this region, excep,
the Flat Heads. once gloried in ornamen,ng
their girdles with the scalps OF white men
Hundreds Of traders and trappers and in
some instances. whole posts have lallen vic
Tins to savage cruelty. Down these rivers.
where now single man passes safely. and
through the very country, through which we
were travelling for weeks before reaching
Wallawalla, without the thought of danger
il was but few years since unsafe 10 move
without an t. ned force; and tribes, which a
few years since thirsted for blood, now are
anxiousthat missionaries should sellle among
them.
Capt w. told me. that out of 200 or 800
men that had been in his employ among the
mountains. bat thiny-six now remained alive
Nearly all the rest had lost their lives by the
Indians.
Respecting the band called the Snake In
dams, residing on the west OF the mountains.
tribe remarkable for their poverty and de-
basement Mr. s. writes -
One portion Of their tribe called Digeers.
are extremely poor. own no horses, and of
course cannot so for buffalo; but are obliged
10 subslst upon roots. grass and crickets. ex.
eept IN the salmon season, when they pet a
good supply of fish, In consequence Of
their poverty, muliliudes die every season
from actual starvation. Many are found in
the spring Of the year. before the salmon
come up. so reduced by famine as 10 De I'M.
able 10 rise upon their. feet. but dragging
their emacia,ed forms about, upon their hands
and knees. they feed upon grass. I'LL death
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