Chapter 46

46.

Scarcity in the camp Refusal of supplies by the Hudson's Bay

Company Conduct of the Indians A hungry retreat John Day's

River The Blue Mountains Salmon fishing on Snake River

Messengers from the Crow country Bear River Valley immense

migration of buffalo Danger of buffalo hunting A wounded

Indian Eutaw Indians A "surround" of antelopes.

PROVISIONS were now growing scanty in the camp, and Captain

Bonneville found it necessary to seek a new neighborhood. Taking

leave, therefore, of his friends, the Skynses, he set off to the

westward, and, crossing a low range of mountains, encamped on the

head-waters of the Ottolais. Being now within thirty miles of

Fort Wallah-Wallah, the trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company,

he sent a small detachment of men thither to purchase corn for

the subsistence of his party. The men were well received at the

fort; but all supplies for their camp were peremptorily refused.

Tempting offers were made them, however, if they would leave

their present employ, and enter into the service of the company;

but they were not to be seduced.

When Captain Bonneville saw his messengers return empty-handed,

he ordered an instant move, for there was imminent danger of

famine. He pushed forward down the course of the Ottolais, which

runs diagonal to the Columbia, and falls into it about fifty

miles below the Wallah-Wallah. His route lay through a beautiful

undulating country, covered with horses belonging to the Skynses,

who sent them there for pasturage.

On reaching the Columbia, Captain Bonneville hoped to open a

trade with the natives, for fish and other provisions, but to his

surprise they kept aloof, and even hid themselves on his

approach. He soon discovered that they were under the influence

of the Hudson's Bay Company, who had forbidden them to trade, or

hold any communion with him. He proceeded along the Columbia,

but it was everywhere the same; not an article of provisions was

to be obtained from the natives, and he was at length obliged to

kill a couple of his horses to sustain his famishing people. He

now came to a halt, and consulted what was to be done. The broad

and beautiful Columbia lay before them, smooth and unruffled as a

mirror; a little more journeying would take them to its lower

region; to the noble valley of the Wallamut, their projected

winter quarters. To advance under present circumstances would be

to court starvation. The resources of the country were locked

against them, by the influence of a jealous and powerful

monopoly. If they reached the