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liness, was the home and property of the red man; when he roamed through its vast solitudes, undaunted by fears of a race then unknown to him, which has since become his pitiless persecutor. They caught themselves gazing pityingly at their companions, almost fancying that their musings partook of a similar nature, for their dark faces were grave and thoughtful, and their song had died on their lips. Twilight stole upon them, and with it thoughts and scenes of things far distant, home and kindred, and they were silent, for their fancies would not clothe themselves in words.

The voice of the pilot broke the stillness, as he proposed seeking some spot on shore, on which to pass the night. They acquiesced, and the men paddled more slowly, while he searched from side to side for a landing place. Suddenly he pointed in a certain direction, and whispered between his closed teeth, hist! and following with their eyes, they saw a light smoke rising from the tops of the trees. He consulted the men in whispers a few moments, and then turned the head of the canoe towards the spot. Slowly and cautiously they floated on, and a sort of panic seized upon the two spectators, and their recollection called before them deeds of horror, done in places and under circumstances less suited to their performance than this. At length they shot into a little nook, and the men rested upon their paddles. Before them, near a large fire, sat an Indian man and woman, so intent upon what seemed to be cooking, that the intruders dropped noiselessly along to within thirty yards of them before they were discovered. When their eyes rested upon them, they started to their feet, and a loud, sharp ‘ugh!' rang through the forest. With his rifle pointed at the boat, the man glided to a tree, and skulked from one to another till quite near it, when he sprang into a thicket and disap

peared, much to their relief, for they had each instant expected that one of the party would fall by the deadly aim of the savage. It would have been a rich subject for Cooper, with his peculiar genius, to dwell upon. The crew seemed perfectly undisturbed by the aspect of affairs, sitting quietly through the scene, and then walking composedly towards the fire, where they were in a few moments joined by the strange Indian. They stood together for several moments, apparently without speaking, when the pilot went to the shore, and motioned the occupants of the boat to come forward. The strangers watched them closely, but allowed them to advance without interruption, probably convinced of their inoffensiveness. After a time, the woman stole out from among the trees, and, seating herself beside her husband, they were both soon quite friendly. They presented their visitors with some wapatoes, which they had roasted, which, although they were not as delicious as the best of potatoes, as their appetites were sharpened, tasted well.

After supper, they were sufficiently wearied to sleep, and therefore drew the canoe ashore, and in it composed themselves to rest under the shelter of blankets. They slept sweetly and undisturbed till nearly sunrise, when they were awakened by the rocking of the boat, and found that by the rising of the tide, they were almost afloat.

After breakfast they were again on their way, and had not been long on the river, when they passed the tree, high in the branches of which, was lodged the body of the "petrified or preserved sister." The story, although it carried with it a strong appearance of improbability, the doctor had no inclination to disbelieve, as he afterwards heard it repeatedly from Mr. Birney and Dr. Townsend, who were at the time travelling through the country with Mr. Nutall, the

famous botanist, and others who were acquainted with the facts, for a tale of truthbinow quicq add to ono tadi batusq -CoNear the place, (several years previous, had lived an Indian family, of which little was known save the following circumstance to tooqes odt yd bodwtzibar yltos119q bomsse

A daughter, perhaps between sixteen and eighteen years of age, was afflicted with a long and painful illness. She [had a brother, by whom she was passionately beloved, who would sit hours by her bedside, clasping her hand in his, and bending upon her looks of pity and affection. When she died, his distress and grief knew no bounds, and he had her obsequies performed in a manner entirely differing from the usual custom of the tribe, A. She was dressed in her holy day! robes and ornaments, placed carefully upon matè in a cange, and suspended in the topmost boughs of an alder So far as can be learned, this people are unacquainted with any art of embalming, and there is, therefore, no reason for supposing that the youth resorted to such means; but cert tain it is, that he visited her weekly, mourning pyer the dear remains and after some time delapsed, he announced that he did not believe his sister was dead, as she had not begun too decay in the least. The friends repaired to the spot, and found it as he had said; that not the slightest trace of des composition could be discovered. This phenomenon contin2 hed for seven or eight years, at which time Dr. Townsend Happening to hear the wonderful stories of the young girl who had been petrified by a brother's tears," determined to obtain a sight of her. This he succeeded in doing unob served, and found the body in a most perfect state of pres ervation, wearing, in every particular, la semblance of youth and freshness. He was stricken with amazement, and imme diately resolved to steal her away and bring her to othe

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United States, where he was certain she would be to him of immense value, as, never within his knowledge, had such. a wonder been exhibited there. He accomplished the business so far as getting the corpse from the tree, and even conveying it to Astoria, where Mr.Birney was fearful of the consequences, if the act was detected. The sequel showed his apprehensions were justifiable for, in a day or two, the brother, on on his first tidy ups in high-gai visit to the tree, discovered that the ca-sasid on to lavin Anoitsing has abis)--1101 988 lavina noe was vacant, and immediately suspected Dr. Townsend, 10-191991-vilnost or some of the whites, for none of his own race would be guilty of disturbing the repose of the dead. Transported with rage and grief, he immediately assembled a band of braves, and, armed and horridly painted,' they presented themselves at the door of the fort, and he demanded the body of his sister. At first Dr. Townsend disclaimed all knowledge of it, but upon Mr. Birney's representing to him the danger they incurred, himself especially, as they firmly declared they would sacrifice him to their vengeance, he reluctantly consented sto its delivery! They received the corpse with every demonstration of reverence, and, carrying it back, de posited it in its former resting place, where it was not again disturbed. It was now supposed that the situation of the body, sot high in the air, and theised at no great distance, the saltness of the atmosphere prevented putrescency have ing any power bierit.yidt aqudroq bas diynol ni tool borb ynol tost svit-ytuowt aqsilroq „zoloq bawory odt ni yaituniq doss of doso moi gribrotzo eroto diw ebno odt gaidoton odt guildmoeor alod stand modt Jenings gaioalq bas of batoorib agroo toliq aids abrewoT serrod s to too -mun squel‚910da odt bodosoiqqs yedt as bus wor of word pedTdosod out of bedooft, 29sia Ils bon 29zoa dtod to and noitutiteof bas ytrevoq tsery to stata a ni od ot bomose

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CHAPTER VII.

Indian Village-Kindness of an Indian Woman-New kind of Umbrella-Accident-Meeting with Dr. Talmie-Killing an EagleArrival at the Fort-Garden and Plantation-Arrival of the DianaMr. Jason Lee-Raillery of Miss Pitman-Mr. Lee's IntroductionLeaving the Fort-Captain Hinckley's officiousness-Laughable arrangement-Boat races-Conclusion respecting Mr. Lee-Putting in for the night-Supper and walk-Pond-Pleasant sail-Willamette Falls-A tradition-Bargain-Portage-Elk Bluff-Pudding River-Arrival at Battens de porte McKoys-Letter-Departure for the Mission-Delightful journey-Arrival at their destination-Miss Downing and Mr. Shepherd-His appearance-Two thousand two hundred miles journey ended—First dinner.

NEAR the tree connected with the foregoing tale, the river abounded in small islands, which, during the June freshets and flood tides, were nearly hidden from sight. The valley or bottom of the river here was wide, but the channel narrow, winding and difficult. Towards noon, the voyagers arrived in sight of an Indian hamlet, which consisted of a row of buildings, if I may so call them, not less than a hundred feet in length, and perhaps thirty in width, formed by planting in the ground poles, perhaps twenty-five feet long, notching the ends, with others extending from each to each, and placing against them barks, the whole resembling the roof of a house. Towards this pilot George directed the crew to row, and as they approached the shore, large numbers of both sexes and all sizes, flocked to the beach. They seemed to be in a state of great poverty and destitution.

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