, 1853-06-04


The mortality that has attack d them o;
late, has made sal rayages for only few
years since they numbered upwards Of a
hundred, willie they are now said to be less
than thirty. The quantity Of land actually
under cultivation here is six hundred acres,
most of which is in wheat. Mr.. Forest
told me that the first year it had produced
ten bushels per acre, but the present one II
was thought the yield would be double.
Around the suPcrinIendent's house is a
kitchen garden, in which all the usual horll-
cultural plants of the United States were
growing luxuriantly; the climate was tho't
TO be particularly well adapted to them.
Mr.. Forest Informed me that the weather
was never actually cold, nor is the winter
long. Snow never lasts more than n day
or two fires, however, are necessary during
most months of the year. The housing Of
cattle is rcsortcd to partially but ltIle or
no provision is made for their winter sus
tcnance, as the grass is fit for food the whole
year round
The geographical situation Of the Cow
litz Farm is in latitude 40 deg. 80 min. N ,
longitude 1913 deg. w.
The guide that Mr.. Forrest had sent for
was one Simon Plumondon, whom | enga-
ged to carry us 10 Astoria. He proved to
have been the cockswain Of General Cass's
canoe, when on his trip to the lakes in the
Northwest Territory and a more usefdl
person have seldom met with, or one that
could be so well depended on. He had
been for several years in this territory, hav-
ing left the Company's service, married an
Indian wife, and was now living on a farm
of about fifty acres, at the Cowlitz, ndepen-
dent and contented. | have seldom seen so
pretty woman as his wife, or a more cheer
ful and good housewife; before her mar
riage she was the belle of the country, and
celebrated for her feats of Workmanship.
Plumondon engaged several of the young
Indians TO accompany him, and with two
canoes we were all accommodated. The
price for each Indian was to be check
shirt.
During our short stay at Cowlilz, several
Indian women brought in pieces of buck
skin for sale, which they deem a necessary
part Of the equipment of a traveller. From
them | learned the manner in which they
prepare it, which is as follows Immedi-
atoly after the animal is killed, the skin,
after having all the hair scraped off, is
stretched tight on frame it is there left
until it becomes dry as parchment, when it
is rubbed over with the brains of the ami
NAL, which impart oil to it il is then steep
ed in warm water, after which it is dried in
the smoke, two women stretching it all the
time it is drying it is then again wet, and
wound tightly round tree, from which it is
again taken, smoked, and drawn by women
as before; when rcarly dry, it is rubbed
with the hands as in washing, until il is
soft and pliable and then it is ready for
use.
Mr.. Forrest stated 10 me that he had pu!
suit on, twenty y-four hours after the ami
mai had been running in the forest. am
well satisfied that no kind of apparel is so
well suited as this to the life of an Indian
or trapper, and all who travel in a wild
country should be provided with such a
dress.
About a mile from the farmhouse We de-
scended a steep bank, two hundred feet high
to the river, where We found our canoes
waiting for us. The Cowhlz was here
abont two hundred yards wide, and very
rapid. Our company, or rather crew, con-
sisted OF nine young Indians We were
soon seated aud gliding down the stream,
while each boatman cxerted his full strength
to send us onward. Just before sunset,
when we thought we had made nine miles.
we landed and pitched our tents on a small
island in the river, The island was covered
with drilt-wood, which soon enabled us to
make good fire, which the temperature
rendered quite acceptable. When our sup.
per was prepared, we found that our Indians
had come away destitute Of any supply
whatever, and that 1t was necessary TO pro-
VIDE iOr them. This have generally found