Ross's Adventures of the first settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River, 1810-1813Ross, Alexander
History
Ross's Adventures of the first settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River, 1810-1813
Ross, Alexander
Mississippi River Valley -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
In the evening, the Indians brought Emms again to the ship. Here the
little fellow implored forgiveness, and begged to be taken on board; but
the captain was inexorable, and threatened him with instant death if he
attempted to come alongside. Soon after he made his appearance again,
but with no better effect. He then asked for his protection, a paper
which the American sailors generally take with them to sea. The captain
returning no answer to this request, Mr. Fox contrived to throw his
clothes and protection overboard unperceived, at the same time making
signs to the Indians to convey them to Emms. On receiving the little
bundle, he remained {43} for some time without uttering a word; at last,
bursting into tears, he implored again and again to be admitted on
board, but to no purpose. All hopes now vanishing, the heroic little
fellow, standing up in the canoe, took off his cap, and waving it in the
air, with a sorrowful heart bade adieu to his shipmates; the canoe then
paddled to land, and we saw him no more.
Our supplies being now completed, the king came on board before our
departure; and it will appear something surprising that the honest and
wealthy monarch, forgetting the rank and pomp of royalty, should at his
parting visit covet everything he saw with us: he even expressed a wish
to see the contents of our trunks; he begged a handkerchief from me, a
penknife from another, a pair of shoes from a third, a hat from a
fourth, and when refused, talked of his kindness to us on shore; while,
on the other hand, he bowed low when presented with a breastpin, a few
needles, or paper-cased looking-glass, not worth a groat. Even the
cabin-boy and cook were not forgotten by this “King of the Isles,” for
he asked a piece of black-ball from the former, and an old saucepan from
the latter. His avarice and meanness in these respects had no bounds,
and we were all greatly relieved when he bade us farewell and departed.
Having taken leave of his majesty, I shall now make a few remarks on the
habits, dress, and language of the natives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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