Encountering a Party of Kalapuya People South of the Long Tom River
This encounter occurred in the Mountains Between the Willamette and Umpqua, the Calapooia divide.
Costume of a Callapuyan, Agate 1841. One of the wandering Kalapuyans- There are numerous accounts of this interaction, including this drawing- the only one of a full length Kalapuya person.
“On the 14th the party fell in with an old Kalapuya, whose portrait was sketched by Mr. Agate. He wore moccasins, an elk-skin dress, a cap of fox-skin with the ears remaining, and his quiver was of seal-skin. Mr. Agate remarked further, that the costume of the Kalapuya women is not unlike the Polynesian. For the last four days the prairies were found to be stripped of herbage by fires, some still burning, that had been kindled, it was said, to facilitate the gathering of sun-flower seed.” (Pickering[1])
Some wandering Callapuyas came into camp, who proved to be acquaintances of Warfield’s wife: They were very poorly provided with necessities. Mr. Agate took a characteristic drawing of one of the old men. These Indians were known to many of the hunters, who manifested much pleasure at meeting with their old acquaintances, each vying with the other in affording them and their wives entertainment by sharing part of their provisions with them. This hospitality showed them in a pleasing light, and proved that both parties felt the utmost good-will towards each other. The Indians were for the most part clothed in deer-skins, with fox-skin caps, or cast-off clothing of the whites; their arms, except in the case of three or four, who have rifles were bows and arrows, similar to those I have described as used at the north; their arrows were carried in a quiver made of seal-skin, which was suspended over the shoulders.” (Charles Wilkes, vol. v p 223-224) [2].
[Wilkes’ account is fully from his discussions with the southern expedition because he was not part of the southern Expedition, he likely only conversed with limited members of the expedition.]
September 14th – Several Indians also came into camp soon after we encamped. Being some of Mrs. Warfields acquaintances who were in the habit of visiting the H.B. Co. parties as they passed through. I allowed them to remain in camp all night & on the following morning observed among them a very pretty squaw. Their general appearance was much like their tribe about Walamat settlement- dirty- poorly clad- & armed with bows- with a few baskets which the females carried their Kamass roots seeds etc in. (Lieutenant George Foster Emmons)
September 13- (one days travel south of Long Tom River) about dusk some Calipoya Indians paid us a visit; they proved to be acquaintances of the guide, and the meeting seemed to be one which afforded mutual pleasure to both parties. He represents them as being a perfectly harmless people, and there was nothing in their appearance to indicate the contrary. They were clothed in deer-skins, with fox-skin caps, or cast-off clothing of the whites. Their arms were bows and arrows; the latter were pointed with bone, and they carried then in a quiver made of seal-skin. (George M. Colvocoresses, Fairchild, NY, 1855.)
They are called Calapuya, we being seen yesterday in the Calapuya Nation, we were visited this morning by an old man of this nation with no covering but a part of a deer skin over his shoulders a kind of cap made of the same, with his bow and quiver of arrows in the whole skin of a hair seal, his whole appearance was totally pitiful though trusting and quite a remarkable looking character. Mr. Agate got a drawing of him as he stood which as soon as he understood remained as motionless as a statue. (Eld)
[1] Pickering “Races…”, 32, (I don’t have the original Pickering Journal, he has one of the scientific volumes with an abridged account of his travels.)
[2] While this account is in the Wilkes published volume, Wilkes was not actually at this meeting so this whole account is recreated by Wilkes from conversations with others or reading over other journals.
My Essay for the Oregon Encyclopedia is on the website: Kalapuya Man.