Chapter VI: Sahaptins

The Sahaptin family inhabit the country south of the Salish, between the Cascade and Bitter Root Mountains, reaching southward, in general terms, to the forty-fifth parallel, but very irregularly bounded by the Shoshone tribes of the California group. Of its nations, the Nez Perces, or Sahaptins proper, dwell on the Clearwater and its branches, and on the Snake about the forks. The Palouse occupy the region north of the Snake, about the mouth of the Palouse; the south banks of the Columbia and Snake, near their confluence, and the banks of the Lower Walla Walla, are occupied by the Walla Wallas. The Yakimas and Klikelats inhabit the region north of the Dalles, between the Cascade Range and the Columbia. The natives of Oregon, east of the Cascade Range, who have not usually been included in the Sahaptin family, are divided somewhat arbitrarily into the Wascoes, extending from the mountains eastward to John Day River, and the Cayuses from this river across the Blue Mountains to the Grande Ronde.

1. NEZ PERCES.

The Nez Perces, or the Sahaptin proper, inhabit Idaho and portions of Oregon and Washington. They style themselves Numepo, but Lewis and Clarke called them the Chopunnish. The origin of their present name is buried in obscurity. Early in the present century they were estimated to number 8,000; and in 1836, when a mission was established among them, about 4,000. In the Oregon Indian war most of the tribe remained friendly and did effective service for the whites on a number of occasions. In 1854 a treaty was made ceding part of their lands, but only a portion of the tribe recognizing it, led to a separation, one party becoming wandering hunters, while the other remained on the reservations.

"Of the 2,800 Nez Perces now living, nearly half located on the Kamiah and Lapwai reservations in northern Idaho, and a few others settled on lands outside the reserve, are prosperous farmers and stock-growers. The rest are 'non-treaties,' who, with other non-treaty Indians in that region, make every exertion to induce the reservation Indians to lease their farms and join them in their annual hunting and root-gathering expeditions."

Early in the summer of the present year troubles arose in regard to the occupancy of the Wallowa Valley by white settlers, it having been withdrawn in 1875 from the reservation assigned them by treaty in 1873, from a failure on their part to permanently occupy it. An Indian, belonging to a band of malcontents or non-treaties under the Chief Joseph, was killed by some settlers, when they insisted upon the removal of all the whites and the restitution of the valley to them. Upon the refusal of the Government to this demand, and further attempts to compel all the non-treaty Indians to come into the reservation at Lapwai, an outbreak occurred under the leadership of Joseph, which resulted in a number of pitched battles, with great loss of life, but were compelled to retreat, the forces under General Howard pursuing them eastwardly across the headwaters of the Snake River and through the Yellowstone National Park, where the pursuit was taken up by the forces under General Terry, resulting finally in the capture of Joseph and the remainder of hi s force by General Miles.

_List of illustrations._

427-8. KAL-KAL-SHU-A-TASH, or _Jason_.

429-431. TA-MA-SON, or _Timothy_.

433-4. ENCAMPMENT ON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER.

The temporary camp of a small hunting party, who were visiting their
friends the Crows at the old agency, near the mouth of Shields
River. This and the following views were made in 1871:

435-6. LODGES IN THE VILLAGE.

437. THE CHIEF OF THE VILLAGE.

438. This man has long yellow hair and blue eyes, but is in
every other respect a thorough Indian. Is said to be a
son of one of the expedition under Lewis and Clarke,
who visited their country early in this century.

439-441. VILLAGE VIEWS.

2. WARM SPRINGS.

The Warm Springs Indians, so named from their location about the thermal springs in Northern Oregon, are related to the Walla Wallas, and number 187, on a reservation of some 725 square miles, on which are also some 300 Wascoes and Teninoes. The combined tribes cultivate about 800 acres of the land. They are very well off in live stock and derive some of their income by lumbering. All wear citizen's dress, many have good comfortable houses, and support two schools, with an attendance of about 50 scholars. They assisted in the operations against the Modocs in 1872, raising a company of scouts for that purpose, who rendered good service.

_List of illustrations._

1058. CAPPOLAS. _A Boney Man._

Took a prominent part in the Modoc war, and distinguished himself by
the capture of Captain Jack in the lava-beds. Height, 5.5-1/2;
circumference of head, 22-3/4.

1061. SHAKA. _Little Beaver._

A sergeant in the company that captured Captain Jack. Height, 5.8;
circumference of head, 22-5/8.

1056. SKE-METZE. _Chopped up._

Familiarly known as "Billy." Height, 5.4-1/2; circumference of head,
22-3/8.

1054. KE-HEY-A-KIN. _Crooked Stick._

Height, 5.6-1/2; circumference of head, 21-3/4.

1063. HISTO. _Clam Fish._

_Height, 5.7-3/4; circumference of head, 22-7/8._

1059. WEY-A-TAT-HAN. _Owl._

The married man of the party, his wife accompanying him on his
travels. Was wounded in the lava-beds, and with five others were the
scouts who first discovered Captain Jack's hiding-place in the cave.

1064. CHIN-CHIN-WET. _Alone._

Wife of Wey-a-tat-han. A very comely and intelligent Indian woman,
of whom but very few are found among the far western tribes. Height,
4.11-1/2; circumference of head, 21-1/2.

1057. SEMEO, or _Umatilla Jim_.

3. WASCOS.

The Wascos, like the Warm Springs Indians, are related to the Walla Wallas, and through them to the Sahaptin family. The name signifies "basin," and the tribe derives its name, traditionally, from the fact that formerly one of their chiefs, his wife having died, spent much of his time in making cavities or basins in the soft rock for his children to fill with water and pebbles, and thereby amuse themselves. They came originally from around the Dalles. Are associated with the Warm Springs and Teninoes on a reservation in Oregon just south of the Columbia. Now number 263, profess the Christian religion, and are more advanced in civilization than any tribe in the State. All the tribes of this reservation are self-supporting, deriving about half their subsistence by agriculture and the rest by fishing and hunting.

_List of illustrations._

1062. KLE-MAT-CHOSNY. _Agate Arrow-Point._

Is a chief and a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a zealous
worker for the spiritual welfare of his people. Height, 5.6-3/4;
circumference of head, 21-3/4.

1060. STAT-TLA-KA. _Pole Cat._

Height, 5.4; circumference of head, 20-5/8.

1055. OSCAR MARK, or _Little Vessel_.

Height, 5.5; circumference of head, 23-1/4.