Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/52

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42
T. C. Elliott

Property, except one that was killed on the way, @ another lost.

Aug. 7 to 12 hard employed on Buildings. 4 Kootanae Men arrived who brought us Provisions,— also 5 Tents of do—who had much dried Meat, but the Hogs would not part with more than a day's allowance to us. Augst. 13 Provisions becoming short for want of a regular supply, for we cannot get these People to hunt constantly, they are so addicted to gaming. We again set to work to make a Weir in the Kootenae Lake River, with good Hopes to succeed, as the Water was much lower @ the Current not so strong. Aug. 15 finished the Weir, that is to say dammed the River from Side to Side, but have not made the Weir, as the Kootanaes say it will be of no real service till the Fall, what is now made is to Serve for the Salmon when they arrive. Aug. 13th Two young Men arrived from the Kootanae Camp, they had no sooner spoken that all the Men @ Women rended the Air with crying @ shrieking. We thought an Attack at hand @ stood to Arms when one of them came @ informed us, it was on account of the Death of the Son of the old Chief, who had been killed by the Peagans.

When they had made an end of their Lamentation, they informed me, that a very large Band of Peagans. Blood @ Blackfeet Indians had crossed to this Side of the Mountain @ made Peace with the Flat Heads; but as they were preparing to depart, the Meadow Indians began to pillage, which raised a Tumult, @ ended by the Flat Heads taking Arms @ killing 13 of the Aggressors @ obliging the others to fly with precipitation. /Four of the Flat Heads were killed @ several wounded. This affair had prevented these People from coming to pay me a visit as they intended @ they had all pitched away to a military Post of the Americans, except 10 of the Flat Heads, who were still with the old Chief. The Kootanaes were on the Point of being joined by a large Band of Flat Bows, the whole of whom, they assured me would be here in 10 Nights hence, the latter have a few Beavers,