Marriage contracts—National custom—Exchange of presents—Nocturnal visits—The object—Purchasing the bride—Customs on the occasion— Feuds and quarrels—Tla-quillaugh, or Indian doctor—His office— Precarious life—Mode of paying him—Manner of treating the sick— Customs and ceremonies on the occasion—Hard duty—Superstitions— Knowledge of roots and herbs—Curing wounds—Diseases, or general complaints—Gambling—Tsill-all-a-come, or the national game—Manner of playing it—Bets—Gambling propensities—Hot baths—Manner of using them—On what occasions—Indian qualifications—Gymnastic exercise—Comparison—General remarks 283 {xv} CHAPTER XX Social habits—Winter habitations—Economy of the winter—Summer employments—Collecting of food—Fish barriers—Salmon—Division of labour—Roots and berries—Scenes at the fish camp—Mode of catching the deer—Preparation of food—Furnaces or ovens—Implements of warfare—Spampt, how made—Pine moss—Bread, how prepared—Great war-dance—Manner of fighting—Treaties of peace—Scalps—Slaves— Funeral ceremonies—Mode of interment—Graves—Superstitions— Emblems—Customs—Mourning—Punishments—Sedate habits and docile dispositions 295 CHAPTER XXI Calculation of time—Singular manner of naming children—Peculiar modes of address—Anecdote of an Indian chief—Indian forbearance— Conduct of the whites in Indian countries—Comparison of crime between Indians and whites—Manner of swaddling infants—Hardships during infancy—Savage customs—Indian constitution—Chief cause of scanty population—A day’s journey—Calculation of distance—Rough roads—Indian ideas—Social habits—Some remarks on the system adopted for converting Indians to the Christian faith 304 APPENDIX Chinook Vocabulary 321 Table of the Weather at the Mouth of the Columbia 330 ADVENTURES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER CHAPTER I Introductory remarks—John Jacob Astor—Grasping views—Early traders of Canada—The Hudson’s Bay Company—American fur companies—Astor’s policy—Russian settlements—Coasting vessels—The Pacific Fur Company— Flattering results—Oregon territory—New association—Mr. Hunt—Golden prospects—Proposals accepted—List of adventurers—Land party—Sea party—The ship _Tonquin_—Remarks—Opinion against opinion— Observations—Land expedition departs—Sea party set off for New York— Bark canoe—Spectators—Canadian voyageurs.