Chinook Indian Talk

Re: for: Tenas

From: tenas
Date: 3/13/2003
Time: 5:14:52 AM
Remote Name: 137.53.105.80

Comments

Because the Oregon question was left unresolved for so long, a wide variety of individuals published journals, memoirs, and various articles on events at Fort Astoria/George, hoping to sway public opinion toward the British or American way of thinking. There are literally hundreds of documents out there that will give tiny bits and pieces of the life of Comcomly.

I’m sorry, but no one journal can give you a clear picture, and in truth you have to become skilled at reading between the lines to understand the Chinook side of the story. Just from my own perspective I’d say it is a truly worthwhile pursuit. Comcomly was a remarkable human being.

Ruby and Brown’s work - The Chinook Indians - is the best secondary source available.

I prefer primary sources. You have to wade through a lot of minutia but even that has its rewards. For instance, did you know that big trees and hogs don’t mix? On two occasions, once in 1812 and once in 1814, workers at Fort Astoria/George were in the process of clearing away the big fir trees near the fort when they were called to supper. Each time, while at table, a huge tree, left chopped nearly through, came crashing down just missing the fort. What these trees did not miss was the company’s hog pen. A number of hogs were lost in this manner. On the second of these occasions Alexander Henry complained that a prize sow had been “smashed to atoms.”

For primary sources I suggest you read:

Franchere,Gabriel - A VOYAGE TO THE NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA

McDougall, Duncan; Jones, Robert F. (editor) - Annals of Astoria: The Headquarters Log of the Pacific Fur Company on the Columbia River, 1811-1813

Douglas, David. - The Oregon Journals of David Douglas, of His Travels and Adventures among the Traders and Indians in the Columbia, Willamette and Snake River Regions during the Years 1825, 1826, & 1827

Henry, Alexander & David Thompson. - NEW LIGHT ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE GREATER NORTHWEST: THE MANUSCRIPT JOURNALS OF ALEXANDER HENRY, FUR TRADER OF THE NORTHWEST COMPANY, AND OF DAVID THOMPSON, OFFICIAL EXPLORER OF THE SAME COMPANY, 1799-1814

Cox, Ross - THE COLUMBIA RIVER: or, Scenes and Adventures during a Residence of Six Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains, among various Tribes of Indians hitherto unknown: together with A Journey Across the American Continent

Ross, Alexander - Adventures of the First Settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River, 1810-1813

Ross, Alexander - The Fur Hunters Of The Far West

Stuart, Robert - The Discovery of the Oregon Trail. Robert Stuart Narratives of His Overland Trip Eastward from Astoria in 1812-13

Last changed: March 13, 2003