THE INDIANS OF DESHUTES.
“That Indian, whose untutord mind
Sees God in the clouds, or hears him in the wind—
Whose soul, proud science never taught to stray”
Far as the glittring sun, or other orbs of day,
Lives far retird—a kanion deep, a solitary dell,
A gloomy shade—’tis there he deigns to dwell.
What is his food, when naught but rocks around
Are seen? No fields of plenty there do clothe the ground.
His raiment, also scant, to shield his naked form,
No robes of beasts, nor pelts, nor furs, to guard him from the storm.
And when with food he chance to break his fast,
He finds no wood to cook his limited repast.
Alas, what then? The salmon and the salmon trout,
In that mad stream, are seen to gambol all about.
By him prepard upon the rocks, or hung on slender poles,
Not far above, on steep decline, where furious water rolls,
He dries his food, and thus ’tis savd from future harm.
’Tis nearly all he has of food—his clothes, they still are less, with which to keep him warm.
Now, why should man, poor wretched man, receive such prompt reply,
That when he broke the law of God, ’twas sure that he must die?
Yet linger first awhile, still wretched and forlorn,
To glean an almost naked earth, ’mongst thistle and the thorn?
’Twas done to show that God is just, and true to all intent,—
That man a lesson here might learn, and thus to him repent.
Nine miles from Deshutes, over the rocky bluffs, brought us to another resting-place, on an arm of Deshutes, flowing from the mountains, in the direction of Mount Hood. Five miles from Deshutes, was a spring, where emigrants sometimes camp, but at this time the Indian ponies had eaten off all the grass. We therefore passd on to our present camp.
1751½
3d—12½ miles to camp, on a small tributary of Deshutes, at Barlow’s gate—all but the gate, though he was found sitting there at the receipt of custom, allowing each emigrant wagon to pass his road through the Cascade mountains, at the moderately healthy sum of five dollars each, which the Government of Oregon had authorized him to receive. But, as miserable a road as it was, thanks be to Mr. Barlow for his energetic movement in opening a way through so rough a district as the Cascade mountains.
Several small streams were passd to-day, though no camps could well be made on them, for want of grass, except the first, which had a very little.
1764
4th—Staid at the same place.
5th—Over the rocky hills, 12 miles to camp, on a muddy arm of Deshutes, flowing from Mount Hood. Ten and a half miles to the arm, 1½ up the same to camp. No grass for our stock.
6th—3 miles up Deshutes valley, to Palmer’s cabin. In consequence of having lost some of our cattle in the thick and almost impenetrable forest, our day’s drive was short. A little below Palmer’s cabin, are signs of very rich bog iron ore. I afterwards found other places of iron ore along the road, by which I was satisfied that the Cascades abound in iron.
1779
7th—10 miles, over the dividing ridge, to camp, at a small flat prairie on our left, from which Mount Hood is seen, a few miles distant, towring high above its neighbor mountains.
1789
8th—10 miles to camp. No grass. Chaind our oxen to trees, and cut a few birch limbs for them. Passd, to-day, what is calld Laurel hill. It is steep and dangerous.
9th—6 miles, down Muddy fork of Sandy, to camp. Drove our cattle across the stream, and found some grass for them. This has been a rainy day.
10th—15 miles, most of the way over a good road, especially on the ridge, calld by some, “Devil’s Back-Bone.”
11th—8 miles, over a hilly road, down to the first settlement, at the west foot of the Cascade mountains. One mile to the last crossing of Sandy creek, 7 more to camp.
1828
12th—12 miles to camp.
13th—6 miles to Oregon city.
1846