An itinerary of the journey of the explorers of the
southern immigrant road to Oregon would hardly be in
place here. It is sufficient to know that they discovered
and opened a route to Fort Hall, which they induced a
part of the immigration to follow; and that misfortunes
overtook the travelers on this, as well as the northern
route, owing partly to neglect of discipline, and partly
X also to early storms encountered in the canon of the Ump-
qua. Such things must be where large companies invade
the wilderness without sufficient forethought. The worst
of all was the animosity religiously cherished by those
who suffered in person and property against those who
meant to do them and the colony a favor. Those who got
into Oregon any way they could had only themselves to
blame for their troubles; but those who were shown a way
which was not after all safe from accident, were tempted
to cast the blame of their misfortunes upon their guides.
As to depredations by the natives, they were unavoidable
in whatsoever direction lay the route of travel. The In
dians of the Humboldt valley, and the Modoc and Klamath
" countries, were troublesome, lying in ambush and shooting
their poisoned arrows at men and animals. This led to
retaliation, and several Indians and two white jnen were
killed in skirmishes. It was raising up enemies for the
future, whose hatred would have to be washed out in
blood. Fortunate was it that at that time these Indians
were not aware of their own strength. Wild men they
were who had not yet learned from traders, or missiona
ries, or Indian agents, to restrain their savage impulses;
nor had they learned from contact and example the art of
war, which at a later period they practiced with signal
success.
^ The immigration of 1846 was not large, not more than one thousand persons. It found the Oregon colony prosperous, and more quiet than the previous year on the Indian question. The presence of an English and an American war fleet in the Pacific was not unkn
