Mr. Clarke—Stragglers—Hard travelling—Cox’s pilgrimage—Visit to Spokane—Trade—Mr. Pillet—Mr. Farnham—Cootanais and Flatheads— M‘Lennan—Plunge in the lake—Adventures—Outposts—Catatouch chief— Curiosity—Fracas—Introduction of civilization—Commotion—M‘Kenzie— Great Snake River—Caches robbed—Canadian wanderers—Character of the Shahaptains—Visit to Spokane—M‘Tavish—Account of the war—Winter travels—M‘Kenzie at Astoria—New resolves—M‘Kenzie’s return to his post—Indian chiefs—Bold enterprize—Property recovered—Chiefs and their horses—Stratagems—Indians outwitted—Plotting—Friendly Island— Conference—Marauding propensities—Treaty of peace—System changed— Plentiful market—The island abandoned—Arrival at Walla Walla— Commotions among the savages—Tummeatapam—Arrival at Astoria. We now come to the history of Mr. Clarke and his party, whom we left at the forks in August last, on his way to his winter quarters at Spokane. Having proceeded up the South-branch, or Louis River, for about fifty miles, he reached the Catatouch band, at the mouth of the Pavilion River.[69] The Catatouches are a small and friendly tribe of the great Nez Percé nations, and the lowest of them on the South-branch.[70] This spot terminated Mr. Clarke’s voyage by water. From thence his route lay across land to the Spokane River, distant {211} about 170 miles. Leaving his canoes under the care of the friendly Catatouch chief, he purchased horses from the Indians for the transportation of his goods. Mr. Clarke had four clerks with him, Messrs. Pillet, Farnham, M‘Lennan, and Cox. He had also more men and merchandize than any of the other parties, as it was supposed he would have most to do in opposing a formidable opposition. Having purchased a sufficient number of horses, he left the Pavilion on the 10th of August, and set out on his journey by land. He had not proceeded far, however, when he got into some little difficulties with his people. They had started together; but before they had been two hours on the march, some of them lagged so far behind that the motley cavalcade outstretched a mile in length; while Mr. Clarke, like a general at the head of an army, had to keep riding backwards and forwards to keep together the broken line of stragglers, the greater part of whom being on foot, and having to keep up with horses, over a barren and sandy plain, in the hot and sultry weather of a Columbia summer, had a task too severe, perhaps, even for the best travellers.