Travelers through the Cascade Rapids could not navigate the rocky passage. Portaging involved either carrying boats and supplies around rapids, or pulling boats up rapids with ropes or other devices. Courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District Office
Many explorers and traders came into conflict with the Cascade
Indians when they portaged around the rapids' dangerously rocky waters.
People had to carry boats and goods by land to the other side of the Cascades.
The Cascade Indians traditionally controlled portage through the rapids,
and profited from presents and fees given for passage. Conflicts arose
when the Europeans and Americans failed to recognize the Cascade Indians'
authority over passage through the area.
We concluded to take our canoes first to the head of
the rapids, hoping that by evening the rain would cease and afford us
a fair afternoon to take our baggage over the portage. this portage is
two thousand eight hundred yards along a narrow rough and slipery road.
... a few men were absolutely necessary at any rate to guard our baggage
from the War-clel-lars who crowded about our camp in considerable numbers.
these are the greates[t] thieves and scoundrels we have met with. ...
the canoes were much damaged by being driven against the rocks in despite
of every precaution which could be taken to prevent it. ... many of the
natives crowded about the bank if the river where the men were engaged
in taking up canoes; one of them had the insolence to cast stones down
the bank at two of the men who happened to be a little detached from the
party at the time. on the return of the party in the evening from the
head of the rapids they met with many of the natives on the road, who
seemed but illy disposed ... --Meriwether Lewis,
Friday April 11, 1806
The cultural conflict over portage came to a head in 1813 and 1814. At
that time, fur traders began to use violent force against Cascade Indians
who stole, or attempted to block passage through the rapids. To ease tensions,
the fur traders changed tactics and became more diplomatic with the Indians,
stopping to meet with chiefs and sometimes offering gifts.
In the 1830s, Cascades and other river Indians lost most of their populations
to a deadly outbreak of malaria. This decimation meant that by the time
a U.S. military expedition traveled through the area in 1849, the Cascades
were no longer a powerful force at the rapids. Surviving Cascade Indians
continued to work for food and wages at the rapids by transporting travelers'
goods.
In 1896, the United States Government finished a canal around the Cascades that boats could travel through instead of portaging.
1849
Journal entries from Major Osborne Cross
Part I - The Cascade Indians & Early Town History
Part II - Mill Town
Part III - Growth and Development
Table
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