Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/81

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FEDERAL INDIAN RELATIONS PACIFIC NORTHWEST 71

within one year consent to occupy it, and give up their tem- porary rights of possession ; This was not done at the sugges- tion of the Indians, but to gratify a large number of our own people, who believed these small bands on, and adjacent to the Coast (should suitable provision be made) could be persuaded to live together as one band or tribe. But in my opinion, there is not the least prospect that a single band will leave their present homes ; in which case the country will be open for set- tlement within one year; at the present time there is not a white man residing upon the purchase.

Wallooska is the only male survivor of a tribe, once of some note. The tract purchased of him, joining the Clatsops on the east is mainly valuable for its immense forests of and variety of choice timber, the southern part is very hilly almost mountainous yet everywhere covered with the timber de- scribed. Lewis and Clarke's river (where these travellers win- tered) is a superior mill stream, there are others smaller streams in different parts all valuable for milling or agricul- tural purposes. It is equally true of this, as of the other pur- chases, that the soil is good and has every indication of being susceptible of high cultivation.

The Kathlamet band of Chinooks, cede a valuable body of land to the United States extending from Ah-pin-pin point forty miles along the south side of the Columbia running back (south) about twenty miles. Astoria and Fort George are upon this tract. Dense forests of various kinds of valuable timber, with small Prairies and many mill streams are the principal features of the Country. The great growth of timber and underbrush here, rendered it extremely difficult for me to examine as much of the tract as I desired, but I informed myself very particularly from those who had made personal inspection of it this band reserve from sale two small Islands in the Columbia.

The treaty with the Tillamooks secures a valuable country resembling the Clatsop Plains and is directly south of that