CHAPTER X. Pioneer Days, Chapter X

the French settlement and somehow trade for wheat, so this detained us two days. When we started from home the snow was six inches deep, but in the meantime a warm rain had melted it, and the river was booming. We loaded our canoes with the flour, twenty bushels of wheat, and a large amount of other supplies, and made the start for home.

CHAPTER X

Before starting for home we bought a shoulder of pork and a small cake of tallow. We now had salt to season the food with, and after being without that essential item for some five months, no one can conceive the difference in the taste of food except those who had the experience. We also brought coffee, but we had nothing with us in the shape of cooking utensils but a frying pan. So here we go up the booming Willamette although we made but little progress.

That night and the next morning our shoulder of pork disappeared. The bones were gnawed so clean that a dog would starve on what remained, so after this we had nothing but bread, with the addition of a mess prepared by putting water in the frying pan where the bread had been baked, let it reach the boiling point, and then thicken to the consistency of gravy. This mixture and bread was all that we had for six days. One of our party called this new prepared gravy "wallop," so if any one in the future might be forced to this scanty living, they will know how to make it.

After arriving home I only remained one night, leaving these hard-earned supplies for the benefit of others. And it was no light matter to leave companions with whom I had been for so long, sharing all the privations and sufferings incident thereto.

On arriving at Salem I met an intimate friend, with whom I had traveled a long way upon the plains. He intended to go to California, while I desired to remain with my relatives. We parted with the best feeling toward each other, but afterward he changed his mind and came back to Oregon.

My friend Robinson, was on the eve of starting to Puget Sound and insisted on my going with him. Perhaps it may appear strange that I would accept such a long and difficult journey, considering my past year's experience, but it must be remembered that I was in a strange land, with but few friends, and neither home nor money, and as my friend was well supplied with money, all these made an inducement that led me to accept the proposition.

My friend, his brother and family, and another man and family together with their household goods, wagons, and oxen-yokes started on our voyage in a large bateau. (This specie of boat was used by the Hudson's Bay Company in the transmission of their freight.) So here we are, with the mode of travelling entirely changed from desert, sagebrush, mountR ins and Indians, to the broad waters of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. I found a vast difference in going down stream in a strong, swift current to that

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Here we leave this strange city of the dead. In a short time we came to the junction of the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers, and we leave the latter, a swift, tortuous stream for our heavy-laden craft to navigate. Consequently a laborious change came to our party. We had to wade many times, waist deep; to haul our boat over rapids, it being impossible to propel it with oars.

After several days of arduous labor we reached the spot where the boat had to be abandoned, and the rest of the journey be made by land. Camp was formed, arrangements made to return to the place from where we started, and drive the teams belongings to the three families over some mountain trails unknown to any of the party. I will make remark, in view of what had to be dome before another start could be made, I had come to the conclusion that I had had all I wanted to Puget Sound, as it was at least one hundred and fifty miles to where the teams were.

The boat was unloaded of the household goods, wagons, oxen yokes and all. In the evening two men came walking up to the camp with blankets on their backs, and to my surprise, one of the men, by the name of Shaw, was an intimate friend of mine, having been raised near him in illinois. Of course I was oveijoyed to meet him. He came to this country the previous year and had been to the Sound. We went for a walk and he told me it was useless to go there, as there was nothing but heavy timber and rocks, no inhabitants but Indians, and nothing to eat but clams and fish. There was no agricultural land, and nothing to induce any one to go there.

After all had retired in the tent I told Mr. Robinson that I had concluded to return with the boat nest morning, without giving him my information concerning the Sound country. He quickly remarked, "If you go I will, too." I told him that I didn't want to influence him at all, but had done all the good I could until he got his team. Nothing more was said that night; but next morning I saw by the way things were moving that I would have company on the return voyage. Sure enough, orders were soon given to reload the plunder and all hands worked with a will, and to all appearances were glad to return.

My boss and his brother returned, leaving the third family aline in that desolate country. Wffliam Packwood was his name. He reached the Sound, and he and progeny have remained in that country ever since.

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