th 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