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s going on with his pretended friend； when she ran out and gave the shriek which brought the men of the village over； and the stranger ran off before M'Neal knew what had occasioned the alarm。〃
The 〃mighty hunter〃 of the Lewis and Clark expedition was Drewyer； whose name has frequently been mentioned in these pages。 Under date of January 12； the journal has this just tribute to the man：
〃Our meat is now becoming scarce； we therefore determined to jerk it； and issue it in small quantities； instead of dividing it among the four messes； and leaving to each the care of its own provisions； a plan by which much is lost； in consequence of the improvidence of the men。 Two hunters had been despatched in the morning； and one of them； Drewyer； had before evening killed seven elk。 We should scarcely be able to subsist； were it not for the exertions of this most excellent hunter。 The game is scarce； and nothing is now to be seen except elk； which for almost all the men are very difficult to be procured； but Drewyer； who is the offspring of a Canadian Frenchman and an Indian woman； has passed his life in the woods； and unites； in a wonderful degree； the dexterous aim of the frontier huntsman with the intuitive sagacity of the Indian； in pursuing the faintest tracks through the forest。 All our men； however； have indeed become so expert with the rifle that we are never under apprehensions as to food； since； whenever there is game of any kind； we are almost certain of procuring it。〃
The narrative of the explorers gives this account of the Chinooks：
〃The men are low in stature； rather ugly； and ill made； their legs being small and crooked； their feet large； and their heads； like those of the women； flattened in a most disgusting manner。 These deformities are in part concealed by robes made of sea…otter； deer； elk； beaver or fox skins。 They also employ in their dress robes of the skin of a cat peculiar to this country； and of another animal of the same size； which is light and durable； and sold at a high price by the Indians who bring it from above。 In addition to these are worn blankets； wrappers of red； blue； or spotted cloth； and some old sailors' clothes； which are very highly prized。 The greater part of the men have guns； with powder and ball。
〃The women have in general handsome faces； but are low and disproportioned； with small feet and large legs； occasioned； probably； by strands of beads； or various strings； drawn so tight above the ankles as to prevent the circulation of the blood。 Their dress； like that of the Wahkiacums； consists of a short robe and a tissue of cedar bark。 Their hair hangs loosely down the shoulders and back； and their ears； neck； and wrists are ornamented with blue beads。 Another decoration； which is very highly prized； consists of figures made by puncturing the arms or legs； and on the arms of one of the squaws we observed the name of J。 Bowman； executed in the same way。 In language； habits； and in almost every other particular； they resemble the Clatsops； Cathlamahs； and； indeed； all the people near the mouth of the Columbia； though they appeared to be inferior to their neighbors in honesty as well as spirit。 No ill treatment or indignity on our part seemed to excite any feeling except fear； nor； although better provided than their neighbors with arms； have they enterprise enough either to use them advantageously against the animals of the forest； or offensively against the tribes near them； who owe their safety more to the timidity than the forbearance of the Chinooks。 We had heard instances of pilfering while we were among them； and therefore gave a general order excluding them from our encampment； so that whenever an Indian wished to visit us； he began by calling out ‘No Chinook。' It is not improbable that this first impression may have left a prejudice against them； since； when we were among the Clatsops and other tribes at the mouth of the Columbia； they had less opportunity of stealing； if they were so disposed。〃
The weeks remaining before the party set out on their return were passed without notable incident。 The journal is chiefly occupied with comments on the weather； which was variable； and some account of the manners and customs of the Indian tribes along the Columbia River。 At that time； so few traders had penetrated the wilds of the Lower Columbia that the Indians were not supplied with firearms to any great extent。 Their main reliance was the bow and arrow。 A few shotguns were seen among them； but no rifles； and great was the admiration and wonder with which the Indians saw the white men slay birds and animals at a long distance。 Pitfalls for elk were constructed by the side of fallen trees over which the animals might leap。 Concerning the manufactures of the Clatsops； they reported as follows：
〃Their hats are made of cedar…bark and bear…grass； interwoven together in the form of a European hat； with a small brim of about two inches； and a high crown widening upward。 They are light； ornamented with various colors and figures； and being nearly water…proof； are much more durable than either chip or straw hats。 These hats form a small article of traffic with the whites； and their manufacture is one of the best exertions of Indian industry。 They are； however； very dexterous in making a variety of domestic utensils； among which are bowls； spoons； scewers ＇skewers＇； spits； and baskets。 The bowl or trough is of different shapesround； semicircular； in the form of a canoe； or cubic； and generally dug out of a single piece of wood； the larger vessels have holes in the sides by way of handles； and all are executed with great neatness。 In these vessels they boil their food； by throwing hot stones into the water； and extract oil from different animals in the same way。 Spoons are not very abundant； nor is there anything remarkable in their shape； except that they are large and the bowl broad。 Meat is roasted on one end of a sharp skewer； placed erect before the fire； with the other end fixed in the ground。
〃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