 He then went south to Canemah, and staked out a Donation Land Claim close to the canoe landing place.Water travel above the falls was still mainly conducted by the Native Americans using canoes at this point, although they also paddled the flat boats, sometimes known as bateaux, that were starting to appear on the river.A few settlers had already established themselves in the Willamette Valley, and the boats and canoes brought their farm products to Canemah.