按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃But the most curious workmanship is that of the basket。 It is formed of cedar…bark and bear…grass； so closely interwoven that it is water…tight； without the aid of either gum or resin。 The form is generally conic； or rather the segment ＇frustum＇ of a cone； of which the smaller end is the bottom of the basket； and being made of all sizes； from that of the smallest cup to the capacity of five or six gallons； they answer the double purpose of a covering for the head or to contain water。 Some of them are highly ornamented with strands of bear…grass； woven into figures of various colors； which require great labor； yet they are made very expeditiously and sold for a trifle。 It is for the construction of these baskets that the bear…grass forms an article of considerable traffic。 It grows only near the snowy region of the high mountains； the blade； which is two feet long and about three…eighths of an inch wide； is smooth； strong； and pliant； the young blades particularly； from their not being exposed to the sun and air； have an appearance of great neatness； and are generally preferred。 Other bags and baskets； not waterproof； are made of cedar…bark； silk…grass； rushes； flags； and common coarse sedge； for the use of families。 In these manufactures； as in the ordinary work of the house； the instrument most in use is a knife； or rather a dagger。 The handle of it is small； and has a strong loop of twine for the thumb； to prevent its being wrested from the band。 On each side is a blade； double…edged and pointed； the longer from nine to ten inches； the shorter from four to five。 This knife is carried habitually in the hand； sometimes exposed； but mostly； when in company with strangers； is put under the robe。〃
Naturally； all of the Columbia River Indians were found to be expert in the building and handling of canoes。 Here their greatest skill was employed。 And； it may be added； the Indians of the North Pacific coast to…day are equally adept and skilful。 The canoes of the present race of red men do not essentially differ from those of the tribes described by Lewis and Clark； and who are now extinct。 The Indians then living above tide…water built canoes of smaller size than those employed by the nations farther down the river。 The canoes of the Tillamooks and other tribes living on the seacoast were upwards of fifty feet long； and would carry eight or ten thousand pounds' weight； or twenty…five or thirty persons。 These were constructed from the trunk of a single tree； usually white cedar。 The bow and stern rose much higher than the gunwale； and were adorned by grotesque figures excellently well carved and fitted to pedestals cut in the solid wood of the canoe。 The same method of adornment may be seen among the aborigines of Alaska and other regions of the North Pacific； to…day。 The figures are made of small pieces of wood neatly fitted together by inlaying and mortising； without any spike of any kind。 When one reflects that the Indians seen by Lewis and Clark constructed their large canoes with very poor tools； it is impossible to withhold one's admiration of their industry and patience。 The journal says：
〃Our admiration of their skill in these curious constructions was increased by observing the very inadequate implements which they use。 These Indians possess very few axes； and the only tool they employ； from felling the tree to the delicate workmanship of the images； is a chisel made of an old file； about an inch or an inch and a half in width。 Even of this； too； they have not learned the proper management； for the chisel is sometimes fixed in a large block of wood； and； being held in the right hand； the block is pushed with the left； without the aid of a mallet。 But under all these disadvantages； their canoes； which one would suppose to be the work of years； are made in a few weeks。 A canoe； however； is very highly prized； being in traffic an article of the greatest value except a wife； and of equal value with her； so that a lover generally gives a canoe to the father in exchange for his daughter。 。 。 。
〃The harmony of their private life is secured by their ignorance of spirituous liquors； the earliest and most dreadful present which civilization has given to the other natives of the continent。 Although they have had so much intercourse with whites； they do not appear to possess any knowledge of those dangerous luxuries； at least they have never inquired after them； which they probably would have done if once liquors bad been introduced among them。 Indeed； we have not observed any liquor of intoxicating quality among these or any Indians west of the Rocky Mountains； the universal beverage being pure water。 They； however； sometimes almost intoxicate themselves by smoking tobacco； of which they are excessively fond； and the pleasures of which they prolong as much as possible； by retaining vast quantities at a time； till after circulating through the lungs and stomach it issues in volumes from the mouth and nostrils。〃
A long period of quiet prevailed in camp after the first of February； before the final preparations for departure were made。 Parties were sent out every day to hunt； and the campers were able to command a few days' supply of provision in advance。 The flesh of the deer was now very lean and poor； but that of the elk was growing better and better。 It was estimated by one of the party that they killed； between December 1； 1805； and March 20； 1806； elk to the number of one hundred and thirty…one； and twenty deer。 Some of this meat they smoked for its better preservation； but most of it was eaten fresh。 No record was kept of the amount of fish consumed by the party； but they were obliged at times to make fish their sole article of diet。 Late in February they were visited by Comowool； the principal Clatsop chief； who brought them a sturgeon and quantities of a small fish which had just begun to make its appearance in the Columbia。 This was known as the anchovy； but oftener as the candle…fish； it is so fat that it may be burned like a torch； or candle。 The journal speaks of Comowool as 〃by far the most friendly and decent savage we have seen in this neighborhood。〃
Chapter XIX
With Faces turned Homeward
The officers of the expedition had decided to begin their homeward march on the first of April； but a natural impatience induced them to start a little earlier； and； as a matter of record； it may be said that they evacuated Fort Clatsop on the 23d of March； 1806。 An examination of their stock of ammunition showed that they had on hand a supply of powder amply sufficient for their needs when travelling the three thousand miles of wilderness in which their sole reliance for food must be the game to be killed。 The powder was kept in leaden canisters； and these； when empty； were used for making balls for muskets and rifles。 Three bushels of salt were collected for their use on the homeward journey。
What they needed now most of all was an assortment of small wares and trinkets with which to trade with the Indians among whom they must spend so many months before reaching civilization again。 They had ample letters of credit from the Government at Washington； and if they had met with white traders on the seacoast； they could have bought anything that money would buy。 They had spent nearly all their stock in coming across the continent。 This is Captain Lewis's summary of the goods on hand just before leaving Fort Clatsop：
〃All the small merchandise we possess might be tied up in a couple of handkerchiefs。 The rest of our stock in trade consists of six blue robes； one scarlet ditto； five robes which we made out of our large United States flag； a few old clothes trimmed with ribbons； and one artillerist's uniform coat and hat； which probably Captain Clark will never wear again。 We have to depend entirely upon this meagre outfit for the purchase of such horses and provisions as it will be in our power to obtain a scant dependence； indeed； for such a journey as is before us。〃
One of their last acts was to draw up a full list of the members of the party； and； making several copies of it； to leave these among the friendly Indians with instructions to give a paper to the first white men who should arrive in the country。 On the back of the paper was traced the track by which the explorers had come and that by which they expected to return。 This is a copy of one of these important documents：
〃The object of this list is； that through the medium of some civilized person who may see the same； it may be made known to the informed world； that the party consisting of the persons whose names are hereunto annexed； and who were sent out by the government of the U'States in May； 1804； to explore the interior of the Continent of North America； did penetrate the same by way of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers； to the discharge of the latter into the Pacific Ocean； where they arrived on the 14th of November； 1805； and from whence they departed the 23d day of March； 1806； on their return to the United States by the same rout they had come out。〃
Curiously enough； one of these papers did finally reach the United States。 During the summer of 1806； the brig 〃Lydia；〃 Captain Hill； entered the Columbia for the purpose of trading with