Ten Years in Oregon: Travels and Adventures of Doctor E. White and Lady West of the Rocky Mountains; with Incidents of Two Sea Voyages Via. Sandwich Islands Around Cape Horn; Containing Also a Brief History of the Missions and Settlement of the Country--origin of the Provisional Government--number and Customs of the Indians--incidents Witnessed While Traversing and Residing in the Territory--description of the Soil, Production and Climate of the Country

Front Cover
Mack, Andrus, & Company, printers, 1848 - Missions - 430 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 359 - And in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the said territory, that shall in any manner whatever interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud previously formed.
Page 359 - The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.
Page 359 - The inhabitants of the said territory, shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature, and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law.
Page 360 - The powers of the government of this state are divided into three distinct departments — the legislative, executive and judicial— and no person, or collection of persons...
Page 415 - The sky was clear and pure, with a sharp wind from the northeast, and the thermometer 2° below the freezing point. We continued down the south face of the mountain ; our road leading over dry ground, we were able to avoid the snow almost entirely. In the course of the morning, we struck a foot path, which we were generally able to keep ; and the ground was soft to our animals' feet, being sandy or covered with mould.
Page 412 - ... which the air was filled with a greenish orange ; and over all was the singular beauty of the blue sky. Passing along a ridge which commanded the lake on our right, of which we began to discover an outlet through a chasm on the west, we passed over alternating open ground and hard crusted snowfields which supported the animals, and encamped on the ridge, after a journey of six miles.
Page 409 - We continued to labor on the road; and in the course of the day had the satisfaction to see the people working down the face of the opposite hill, about three miles distant. During the morning we had the pleasure of a visit from Mr. Fitzpatrick, with the information that all was going on well. A party of Indians had passed on snowshoes, who said they were going to the western side of the mountain after fish.
Page 426 - River about ten miles below. Never did a name sound more sweetly! We felt ourselves among our countrymen; for the name of "American,* in these distant parts, is applied to the citizens of the United States. To our eager inquiries he answered, "I am a vaquero (cowherd) in the service of Captain Sutter, and the people of this rancheria work for him.
Page 416 - Continuing down the river, which pursued a very direct westerly course through a narrow valley, with only a very slight and narrow bottom-land, we made twelve miles, and encamped at some old Indian huts, apparently a fishing place on the river.
Page 412 - Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and, looking towards the valley, found it enveloped in a thunderstorm. For us, as connected with the idea of summer, it had a singular charm, and we watched its progress with excited feelings until nearly sunset, when the sky cleared off brightly, and we saw a shining line of water directing its course towards another, a broader and larger sheet.

Bibliographic information