, 1844-01-06

are now large herds of cattle here,
and more are annually being driven
from California. Beef and pork are
becoming abundant. Beef 5 to c
cents per pound, pork 7 TO 10 cents.
wheat 60 cents TO 81; peas about
the same; corn is scarce, 81 TO l SO
per bushel. Carbon vegetables are
also raised. Horses are numerous.
know OF no country where there
are so many cattle and horses for the
population rs in Oregon. Some Indi-
ans are said TO own $50 head Of hor-
seS.
This summer there have been six
or seven droves by my house to the
settlement, to exchange for cattle
These are mostly from the upper
country. These Indians will soon
be rich in cattle. &c. There are do
nestle animals, such as | have al
ready mentioned, and cats, dogs, and
hens; no tame geese, or very few,
though there are thousands lid; also
the swan, bald and gray eagle, WI
lure, buzzards, the of different
kinds, tish-hawk, hen-hawk, pigeon
hawk. owl, black bird, robin, wren.
and various kinds of other birds:
some of which | have never see in
the States. We have the elk, deer,
bear, panther, fox, raccoon. wild cat,
wolf. squirrels OF different kinds. rats,
(bushy tail mice. moIes, beaver, OF
ter, muskrats, mink. weasel. snakes,
rattle snkes in some places, adder,
lizards, and creeping and flying 10
Gusts Of various kinds and colors.-
Water is abundant and good.
The streams are generally clear as
crystal; some, which rise in the
m"untaihS Of perpetual Snow, are
cold al summer. There are several
saoa mountains in view from almost
every point, and greatly, in my opin
ION. add to The beauty and grandeur
"t the country. Tie soil is general
~ good; some dark loan mixed with
clay. some sandy, gravelIy, red soil
all produce very well so tar rs they
have been tried. Wheat is sowed
here after wheat from year 10 year.
Oae man II is said. has raised seven or
eight crops of wheat inr succession
ron the SAME ground, and the last is
said TO have heen the best, and all
were good. 1t is frequently the Case.
that when wheat shells considerably
n harvesting, what falls is left on the
ground and the next season a good
crop is realized. know of no coun-
Try where 4 man can make a farm
eHsIr than in Oregon, or where lie can
live %easier.
Mills are rather scarce, though the
prospect is increasingly favorable
There are no regularly laid out roads;
and the general mode of travelling i,
on horseback, or by canoes. The
prospect Of commercial intercourse
with the Sandwich Islands and Chi
ma is good. The Sandwich Islands
are destined 10 lie TO the western
world, what the West Indies are to
the United States. We obtain sugar
ard molasses from these, nearly, or
quite as cheap as they can be afford
ed in the States. II is only about SIX
ty DAYS sail to China, and fifteen or
twenty TO the Islands.
Siarsry.-This hus existed from
time immemorial. The strongertrIbes
make war on the weaker, take pris
"ner$, and ens!avc them. These are
frequently taken 10 other parts Of the
country and sold TO other tribes
Such has been the case this week
A large party Of the Ciamoth tribe,
fierce and warlike, from the South.
came in with about twenty slaves,
and sold most or all Of them. Some.
| vas informed, were sold for three
horses each, some cheaper. Slaves
are moi considered h!!icun, that is,
people, but as dogs. They do the
principal part ofthe work and drudge
~, ard when they die are cast out a.
mong the bushes without burial, and
are generally devoured by wild
Hence human homes are
scattered far and wide, and are nu-
meyious in some parts of the country.
Slaves generally are as well or better
clad than their masters. and as to food
fare equally well; but the epithetelita
-sIave--is fixed upon them, never
or seldom TO be removed. In some
Instances they obtain their freedom.
Many of the settlers, both French and
American, buy and sell slaves. BIZ
these most of the work of the far
ner is done. Will not some govern
notice this? Are not the laws
IF the Union strict on the subject OF