, 1853-07-16


the Dallcs since lS2S. The primary OBJ,
jcct of this mission is, in the first place, to
give the Gospel to the Indians, and next to
teach them such arts Of civilization as shall
enable them to improve their condition, and
by grycS to become an enlightened com
muuity. There are many difficulties that
the missionary has to contend with, il first
coming among these people, none Of which
are greater than the want Of knowledge Of
their true character The missionaries, after
a full opportunity Of knowing these Indians,
con id,r covetouSncss as their prevailing sin,
which is exhibited in lying, dishonest traffic,
gambling, and horsa-racing. or the latter
they are extremely fond, and are continual
ly deslLous of engaging in 1t. This sport
frequently produc, contentious, which often
end in blood-shed Stealing prevails 10 an
alarming extent: scarcely any thing that can
be removed is safe. The missionaries have
several times had their houses broken open,
and their property more or less damaged
The stealing Of horses in particular is very
common, but after being broken down they
are sometimes returned. There are but
few chiefs 10 whom the appeal for redress
can be made, and they can exercise but lit
tie control over such lawlcss crew. Those
who gather here are generally the very
worst Of the tribes around.
The number Of Indians within the Dalles
mission is reckoned at about two thousand :;
in but few Of these, however, has any symp-
tom Of reform shown itself They frequent
the three great salmon fisheries Of the Co
lumbia, the Dales, Cascades, and Chutes,
and few were found at a salmon fishery
about twenty-five miles up the Chutes river.
The season for fishing salmon, which is
the chief article of food in this country, lasts
during five months, from May TO Septem-
ber. The country also furnishes quantities
of berries, nuts, roots, and game, consisting
Of bears, elk, and deer but, owing TO the
improvidence of the native inhabitants, they
are, notwithstanding this ample supply of
articles Of food, ofIendmcs on the verge of
starvation.
After the fishing and trading season is
over, they retire to their villages, and pass
the rest of the year 10 inactivity, consuming
the food supplied by the labours of the pre-
ccding summer land as the season for fish
ing comes round, they again resort 10 the
fisheries This is the ordinary course of
life among these Indians, whose dissipation
has been already spoken OF, and will claim
more attention hereafter.
Here again some others demanded their
annual token from the brigade for past ser
vices.
The country about the Dalles is broken,
and the missionaries report that this is the
case for some miles around. There are,
however, also some plains and iable-lands,
which are considered as very valuable, be-
ing well watered with springs and small
streams; excellent for grazing, and well
supplied with limbor-oak and pine. The
soil varies in quality, and portions of it are
very rich. Garden vegetables succeed, but
require irrigation. Potatoes also must be
watered, by which mode of culture they
succeed we'll Corn and peas can be raised
in sufficient quantities Wheat produces
about twenty-five bushels to tho acre: this
is not, however, on the best land. They
sow in October and March, and harvest be-
gins towards the end of June.
The climate is considered healthy the
atmosphere is dry, and there are no dews
From May till November but little rain
falls, but in winter they have much rain and
snow. The cold is seldom great, although
during the winter preceding our arrival the
thermometer fell to-1S deg. Fahrenheit.
The greatest heat experienced in summer
was 100 deg. in the shade; but, even after
the hottest days, the nights are cool and
pleasant
AT daylight, on the Sd July, the goods
we're all embarked. When they reached
the Chules, theylogain made portage of
their goods for quarter of a mile, and in an
hour and half they were again on' their
way. During very high water, the fall,
whence The place takes It's name, is not Wis
ble, but when it is low, there is fall Of
ten feet perpendicular, that occupies nearly
the whole breadth of the river. It is i'm
possible to pass this fall at low water, but
when the river is swollen, boats shoot it
with ease and safety. The Columbia, from
the Chutes as far as John Days river is fill
cd with rocks which occasion dangerous
rapids.
Aller passing the dalles an entirely new
description of country is entered, for the line
of woods extends no farther. The last tree
stands on the south side of the river, and is
named Ogden's tree on our map; it is about 6
miles above the Dalles The woods termi-
nate at about the same distance from the
coast in all parts of this region south of the
parallel of 4S deg. N.
The country between these places is de-
cidedly volcanic, and the banks on either
side are rocky and high. In this part Of
the country it is very hot when there is no
wind Mr.. Drayton had no Thermometer,
and therefore was unable 10 ascertain the
exact degree Of heat.