tribe look on and laugh; thinking it all too foolish to do harm; but they will soon find that women, children, and fools, form a large majority of every community, and they will have, eventually, to follow the new light, or be considered among the profane.  As soon as a preacher or pseudo prophet of the kind gets followers enough, he either takes command of the tribe, or branches off and sets up an independent chief and “medicine man.”

46.

Scarcity in the camp—­Refusal of supplies by the Hudson’s Bay Company—­Conduct of the Indians—­A hungry retreat—­John Day’s River—­The Blue Mountains—­Salmon fishing on Snake River Messengers from the Crow country—­Bear River Valley—­ immense migration of buffalo—­Danger of buffalo hunting—­A wounded Indian—­Eutaw Indians—­A “surround” of antelopes.

Provisions were now growing scanty in the camp, and Captain Bonneville found it necessary to seek a new neighborhood.  Taking leave, therefore, of his friends, the Skynses, he set off to the westward, and, crossing a low range of mountains, encamped on the head-waters of the Ottolais.  Being now within thirty miles of Fort Wallah-Wallah, the trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, he sent a small detachment of men thither to purchase corn for the subsistence of his party.  The men were well received at the fort; but all supplies for their camp were peremptorily refused.  Tempting offers were made them, however, if they would leave their present employ, and enter into the service of the company; but they were not to be seduced.

When Captain Bonneville saw his messengers return empty-handed, he ordered an instant move, for there was imminent danger of famine.  He pushed forward down the course of the Ottolais, which runs diagonal to the Columbia, and falls into it about fifty miles below the Wallah-Wallah.  His route lay through a beautiful undulating country, covered with horses belonging to the Skynses, who sent them there for pasturage.

On reaching the Columbia, Captain Bonneville hoped to open a trade with the natives, for fish and other provisions, but to his surprise they kept aloof, and even hid themselves on his approach.  He soon discovered that they were under the influence of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who had forbidden them to trade, or hold any communion with him.  He proceeded along the Columbia, but it was everywhere the same; not an article of provisions was to be obtained from the natives, and he was at length obliged to kill a couple of his horses to sustain his famishing people.  He now came to a halt, and consulted what was to be done.  The broad and beautiful Columbia lay before them, smooth and unruffled as a mirror; a little more journeying would take them to its lower region; to the noble valley of the Wallamut, their projected winter quarters.  To advance under present circumstances would be to court starvation.  The resources of the country were locked against them, by the influence of a jealous