, 1853-06-11

modest downcas, look, would commence a
chant, informing the bystanders that her
period Of mourning was out, that she had
forgotten her deceased husband, given her
grief 10 the winds, and was now ready 10
cxpouse another. This chant was accom-
panied by small movement Of the feet and
body, which, with the gutteral song and
consequent excitement Of such an exhibit
lion, caused The fair ones 10 wax 50 warm
that the pcrspiration rolled down their
painted cheeks; this, with the crimson
flush, all tended TO add brlllancy 10 their
dark eyes, as they were now and then cast
around upon the multitude Of Indians, who
seemed all admiration. did not ascertain
whether the fair one succeeded in winning
a second husband, but am satisfied that her
exertions were such as ought TO have OBJ
tanned her one.
The Chinook and Kilamuke tribes enter
tain, as / was informed, the idea Of fu-
ture state, in their hunting grounds, which,
in their language, they call TamaIh The
road 10 them is supposed 10 be difficult, and
none but those who are Of good character
can 60 there, by the road which is called
O-tu-i-huti, term by which they designate
the Via Laciea They have a strong belief
that all their departed relatives and friends
have guard over them, and prevent evil
from approaching them. Each Indian has
his tamanuus, % spirit, which is selected by
him at a very early age, and is generally
the first object they see in going out 10 the
woods, that has animal life. Others create
from their Imagination one that has never
met mortal eyes. The choice Of q spirit,
however magnificent il may appear, has a
great influence on their after life for, by
lis supposed commands, they are directed
to good or evil, as they concrIve that non-
conformity TO lis wishes would involve them
in a multitude Of evils, for they suppose it
is able to destroy health, or preserve il, or
inAict miseries without end.
They at times, and particularly when in
the water, pretend 10 hold converse with it,
and talk to themselves in a low, monoio-
nous tone of voice.
lkaui is the name of their most powerful
god 10 him they ascribe the creation Of all
things. A mountain is. called alter him,
from its being supposed that he was there
turned into stone, and they point out the
principal rock, which rises in a pyramidal
shape, as his statue.
They believe that their departed friends
and relatives have a knowledge Of what is
going on among the living; and they, in
consequence, will not eat in sight OF the
dead, nor laugh, for fear their mouths will
be turned askew. With the dead, they
bury, as in other parts of Oregon, their guns,
knives, pots, and kettles; and was inform
ed that these articles would not be stolen
when thus deposited, Ipresume, however,
that such is not the fact, for ] observed that
these things had always been previously
rendered useless, by either being burnt, or
having holes punched through them, in or
der TO take away the temptation to theh.-
Formerly, slaves were moi unfrequcnIiy kill
ed at a chief funeral, in order 10 bury them
with their masters. They speak of the
dead walking at night, when they are sup
posed TO awake, and get up to search for
food. They have many superslitions, that
have been already noticed, Of which that
relating 10 the salmon is the most singular,
and the most strictly adhered to.
The god who made the Columbia river,
and all The fish in it, they call ltalupus. He
taught their ancestors how 10 procure fire,
make nets, and catch fish. The first sal
mon caught are all tabooed, aud they dare
not sell them they must all be cut up and
cooked the day they are caught. A dog
must never be permitted to eat the heart oi
a salmon; and in order 10 prevent this, they
cut the heart of the fsh out before they sell
it.
Italupus rs supposed to nourish the sal
mon, and cause them 10 be abundant during
the whole summer, that they may lay up
their store of it for the winter.
Having completed all the arrangements
and the weather becoming fine, on the 10th
we resumed our duties in the survey, which
was now carried on with spirit. The sta
tions being established and the triangulation
completed, the tender, with two boats, was
left to sound out the bay, while the remain
ing part of the force was moved up the rv-
er, to continue the surveys, in company
with the Porpoisc and Oregon; for 1 now
iOuhu IL HSCSSSaIt AnaA OOAu 'csoelS bnOulu
proceed up TO Vancouver. This was mol
only to insure more thorough outfit for the
Oregon, but it also served TO forward the
surveying duties, and to afford the oficerl
and men such quarters at night as would
protect them from the sickly season, that
was approaching, and of which We had re-
ceived such unfavorable accounts.
On the 18Th Of August, | left Astoria
with the Porpoise and Oregon, 10 continue
the survey. We reached Tongue Point
where we anchored, previously to crossing
thence to the opposite side Of the river
through the crooked channel which wa.
then believed to be the only passage by
which a vessel of any class could ascend The
stream.
n Al nal.