The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-04-28
AM A8oRIeINAL TRApITIoN.

The early settlers Ol lliiS COHutAJ VIII
remember having seen in many locaii-
ties shallow excavations, from which
the earth appeared to have been
thrown so as to form slight embank-
ment of semi-circular shape. These
were generally supposed to be the re-
mains of breast-works thrown up by
contending forces of the aboriginal
tribes.
1 remember visiting one of these sin
gular works years ago in company with
an aged mountaineer, from whom
learned that the popular idea respecting
their origin was greatly at fault. His
statement was Though 1 have not seen
him corroborated either by Joaquin
Miller or Bancroft), that, when the
noble red men held undisputed sway
over this whole country, they were in
the habit of making periodical feasts
among some of the tribes, when for
days, and even weeks they would aban-
don themselves to a carnival of rude
sports, and, with feasting, dancing, and
feats of agility, enjoy themselves as
only the unsophisticated children of
nature can. But the. most interesting
and important feature of these gather
ings was the facilities afforded the I'M
mated to procure partners for life.
Mothers, intent upon eligible matches
for their dark-browed daUgL ters, were
as anxious to be present ut these feasts
as are their pale faced sisters when
actuated by similar motives, at our
fashionable watering places nowadays.
But, instead of exhibiting the bleached
hands of their blooming offspring as an
assurance that they were unfamiliar
with household duties, these simple
children of the forest gluried in the fact
that their daughters could dig up the
ground with rude, huck-hurn picks, and
raise entertainments with their unpro-
tected hands. Indeed, as | was in
formed, these excavations and embank.
ments were the result of the voluntary
labors of marriageable women of the
aboriginal tribes as Il token of the fact
that they were in the market.
While gazing upon this ancient relic
of race upon whose yearly dwindling
forces is written "passing away" and
musing upon the strange medieval su-
perstitions that haunt and hold them,
thought of the possible love scenes that
had been enacted there. Perchance
some pigeon-toed Romeo, faultlessly at
tired in beaded buckskins, resplendent
in pigment, and redolent of fishy odors,
had, in the "unIemembered ages"
stood where was standing, and, as the
anxious maidens bent to their toll, had
, clucked to the sWiftest dirt-flinger of
them all, burning words of love. With
solemn earnestness, perhaps, did he di-
late upon the depth of his inextinguish-
: able passion, recount to her his dark
, deeds of daring in quest of the choice
2 chargers of neighboriug tribes, relate
perilous adventures and hair breadth
| escapes, tell of elk hunts and bear
| hunts and beaver hunts, of gladitorial
f combats and war-dances, she mean
f while throwing the dirt higher and
higher in her eagerness to prove her in
, dustry and secure such a prize. And,
t as she paused to wipe the perspiration
: from her streaming brow with the back
t of a soiled digit, she would, perhaps,
= make voluble promise of obedience to
his kingly behests, account it pleasure
f to perform the drudgery of life for him,
, and to dig camas, roast salmon, toads
f and lizards to tickle the palate of her
' valorous lord. Just at this interesting
juncture, he would probably fall upon
3 his knees and conjure her to fly-in-
: stantly fly with him, assuring her that,
o of all things, he would prize bride
a with nimble fingers. With beating
: heart she would then assure him that
her cruel parent would not consent to
e their union unless his bereaved heart
d was recompensed by a goodly horse or
v brace of dogs, and that, deep as was
e her affection for him, she could not con-
t sent to rob her gray-haired sire of so
!, valuable a piece of property without
v rendering just equivalent; and, with
e briny tears chasing each other down her
e dusky cheeks, would suggest that the
;. most speedy and honorable road out Of
: the difficulties that, because of his sad
h impecuni(h )osity, hedged them in, was
to put his skill in hOrse-thieving to a
practical test Such might have been a
scene to which this emaankment was,
in times long past, a witness, and
again, it might not.
Little skilled am in the vocabulary
: of Indian maidens' lOve-making, and,
did it suit my purpose to pursue this
n subject further, L should be forced to
= evoke assistance from the thrilling ex-
If periences of Joaquin Miller, as my own
Imagination has already been taxed tC
O the utmost. Being rather more con-
n versant with the way these affairs are
n carried on in civilized life, Tor were, al
least, when was youngl, I will per.
Il haps be pardoned for supposing that the
!, unsOphisticated children of the forest
a could make at least as many rash prom
ises-and break them-as their pale
faced brethren and sisters habitualIy do.
A. F. ].
II portIauJ ApriI "a 1879