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hites； and on one side of the room were two wide； split boards； placed together so as to make space for a rude figure of a man cut and painted on them。 On pointing to this； and asking him what it meant； he said something； of which all that we understood was ‘good；' and then stepped up to the painting； and took out his bow and quiver； which； with some other warlike instruments； were kept behind it。
〃He then directed his wife to hand him his medicine…bag； from which he drew out fourteen forefingers； which he told us had belonged to the same number of his enemies； whom he had killed in fighting with the nations to the southeast； in which direction he pointed； alluding； no doubt； to the Snake Indians； the common enemy of the tribes on the Columbia。 This bag is usually about two feet in length； and contains roots； pounded dirt； etc。； which only the Indians know how to appreciate。 It is suspended in the middle of the lodge； and it is considered as a species of sacrilege for any one but the owner to touch it。 It is an object of religious fear； and； from its supposed sanctity； is the chief place for depositing their medals and more valuable articles。 They have likewise small bags； which they preserve in their great medicine…bag； from whence they are taken； and worn around their waists and necks as amulets against any real or imaginary evils。 This was the first time we had been apprised that the Indians ever carried from the field any other trophy than the scalp。 These fingers were shown with great exultation； and； after an harangue； which we were left to presume was in praise of his exploits； the chief carefully replaced them among the valuable contents of his red medicine…bag。 The inhabitants of this village being part of the same nation with those of the village we had passed above； the language of the two was the same； and their houses were of similar form and materials； and calculated to contain about thirty souls。 They were unusually hospitable and good…humored； so that we gave to the place the name of the Friendly village。 We breakfasted here； and after purchasing twelve dogs； four sacks of fish； and a few dried berries； proceeded on our journey。 The hills as we passed were high； with steep； rocky sides； with pine and white oak； and an undergrowth of shrubs scattered over them。〃
Leaving the Friendly village； the party went on their way down the river。 Four miles below they came to a small and rapid river which they called the Cataract River； but which is now known as the Klikitat。 The rapids of the stream； according to the Indians； were so numerous that salmon could not ascend it； and the Indians who lived along its banks subsisted on what game they could kill with their bows and arrows and on the berries which； in certain seasons； were plentiful。 Again we notice the purchase of dogs； this time only four were bought； and the party proceeded on their way。 That night； having travelled thirty…two miles； they camped on the right bank of the river in what is now Skamania County； Washington。 Three huts were inhabited by a considerable number of Indians； of whom the journal has this to say：
〃On our first arrival they seemed surprised； but not alarmed； and we soon became intimate by means of smoking and our favorite entertainment for the Indians； the violin。 They gave us fruit； roots； and root…bread； and we purchased from them three dogs。 The houses of these people are similar to those of the Indians above； and their language is the same； their dress also； consisting of robes or skins of wolves； deer； elk； and wildcat； is made nearly after the same model； their hair is worn in plaits down each shoulder； and round their neck is put a strip of some skin with the tail of the animal hanging down over the breast； like the Indians above； they are fond of otter…skins； and give a great price for them。 We here saw the skin of a mountain sheep； which they say lives among the rocks in the mountains； the skin was covered with white hair； the wool was long； thick； and coarse； with long coarse hair on the top of the neck and on the back； resembling somewhat the bristles of a goat。 Immediately behind the village is a pond； in which were great numbers of small swan。〃
The 〃mountain sheep〃 mentioned here are not the bighorn of which we have heard something in the earlier part of this narrative； but a species of wild goat found among the Cascade Mountains。 The 〃wildcat〃 above referred to is probably that variety of lynx known in Canada and most of the Northern States and the Pacific as the loup…cervier； or vulgarly； the 〃lucifee。〃
On the last day of October； the next of the more difficult rapids being near； Captain Clark went ahead to examine the 〃shoot；〃 as the explorers called the place which we know as the chute。 In the thick wood that bordered the river he found an ancient burial…place which he thus describes：
〃It consists of eight vaults made of pine or cedar boards closely connected； about eight feet square and six in height； the top covered with wide boards sloping a little； so as to convey off the rain。 The direction of all of these vaults is east and west； the door being on the eastern side； partially stopped with wide boards decorated with rude pictures of men and other animals。 On entering he found in some of them four dead bodies； carefully wrapped in skins； tied with cords of grass and bark； lying on a mat； in a direction east and west。 The other vaults contained only bones； which were in some of them piled to the height of four feet。 On the tops of the vaults； and on poles attached to them； bung brass kettles and frying…pans with holes in their bottoms； baskets； bowls； sea…shells； skins； pieces of cloth； hair； bags of trinkets and small bonesthe offerings of friendship or affection； which have been saved by a pious veneration from the ferocity of war； or the more dangerous temptations of individual gain。 The whole of the walls as well as the door were decorated with strange figures cut and painted on them； and besides were several wooden images of men； some so old and decayed as to have almost lost their shape； which were all placed against the sides of the vaults。 These images； as well as those in the houses we have lately seen； do not appear to be at all the objects of adoration； in this place they were most probably intended as resemblances of those whose decease they indicate； when we observe them in houses； they occupy the most conspicuous part； but are treated more like ornaments than objects of worship。〃
The white men were visited at their camp by many Indians from the villages farther up the stream。 The journal says：
〃We had an opportunity of seeing to…day the hardihood of the Indians of the neighboring village。 One of the men shot a goose； which fell into the river and was floating rapidly toward the great shoot； when an Indian observing it plunged in after it。 The whole mass of the waters of the Columbia； just preparing to descend its narrow channel； carried the animal down with great rapidity。 The Indian followed it fearlessly to within one hundred and fifty feet of the rocks； where he would inevitably have been dashed to pieces； but seizing his prey he turned round and swam ashore with great composure。 We very willingly relinquished our right to the bird in favor of the Indian who had thus saved it at the imminent hazard of his life； he immediately set to work and picked off about half the feathers； and then； without opening it； ran a stick through it and carried it off to roast。〃
With many hair's…breadth escapes； the expedition now passed through the rapids or 〃great shoot。〃 The river here is one hundred and fifty yards wide and the rapids are confined to an area four hundred yards long； crowded with islands and rocky ledges。 They found the Indians living along the banks of the stream to be kindly disposed； but they had learned； by their intercourse with tribes living below； to set a high value on their wares。 They asked high prices for anything they had for sale。 The journal says：
〃We cannot learn precisely the nature of the trade carried on by the Indians with the inhabitants below。 But as their knowledge of the whites seems to be very imperfect； and as the only articles which they carry to m