Chapter VI

SENATORIAL BRAINS BEATEN BY SAVAGE MUSCLE——PLEASANT
WAY OF PAYING PENALTIES.

The Legend in the Last Chapter——Why it is Introduced——Siletz
Agency——Oyster Beds and Timber Lands——The same “Old Story”
Rehearsed——The Boat Race——Indian _vs._ United States Senator——
The Horse Race——Congressional Avoirdupois——Crossing the Siletz
River——Civilized Indians——A Rare Scene——Euchre Bill——Biting
off Heads——The Indian School——Too-toot-na——His Wife Jinney——
Her Financial Skill——Her Husband’s Hope——Doomed to
Disappointment——Indian Court Day——Hickory Clubs _vs._
Blackstone——The Attendants at Court——The First Case——A Woman’s
Quarrel——Appropriating a Horse——Wounded Honor——An Agreeable
Penalty——The Lone Chief——Indian Bashfulness——The Agent’s
Fears——Old Joshua Speaks——His Eloquence——His Request is
Granted——Religious Influences——A Language of One Hundred
Words——Christianity and Common Sense——The Dialogue——Logs on
Indian Graves——Why Placed there——Religions of the Indians
Discussed Further On——Indian Agent Ben Simpson——His Report——He
Arraigns the Government——Joel Palmer’s Report——Political
Preacher and the Christian Agent——The Treachery of the Former——
A Plea for the Siletz Indians——Base White Men and a Cruel
Government——The Sad Story Repeated——A Ray of Hope——Alsea
Agency——The Alsea Indians——Their Character Peaceable and
_therefore_ Neglected——Crime Rewarded by the Government——
Virtue Punished——The Destiny of the Alsea Tribe——A Stern
Rebuke and a Prophecy 74

CHAPTER VII.

PHIL SHERIDAN’S OLD HOME——WHAT A CABIN COST.

Grand Round Agency——Indian Houses——Cost of a Board——Gen. Phil
Sheridan——A Romance of a Young Chief——The Family from
Missouri——The Red-skinned Archer and Pale-face Gunner——Their
Trial of Skill——Fight with the Grizzly——The Wounded Hunter——
The “Medicine Man”——Santiam and the Pale-faced Maiden——The
Disappointment——Faithful to Her Vows——Description of the
Valley Resumed——The Writer’s First Visit——The Indians There——
Their Progress in Civilization——Ceremonious Hand-shaking——The
Writer’s Remarks——Replies by Joe Hutchins and Louis Neposa——A
Peculiarity of Indian Eloquence——Speeches by Black Tom and
Solomon Riggs——The Writer’s Speech——Its Effect——Wapto Davis’s
Plain Talk——Joe Hutchins’ Sarcasm——Result of the Council 101

CHAPTER VIII.

STOPPING THE SURVEY——WHY.

Official Correspondence——What the Indians Need——Important
Questions Asked——Commissioner Parker’s Reply. (See Appendix)——
The Mills Built——Indian Laborers——A Misunderstanding——The
Indian’s Rights——They are Wronged——A Protest——Interesting
Letter Relating to Allotment of Lands. (See Appendix)——
Singular Request——Reason for It——An Act of Justice——The Indian
Parade——The Indian’s Speech in English——The Writer’s Reply——
Wapto Speaks——Catholics _vs._ Methodists——Father Waller——An
Episode——Leander and Lucy——Love and Law——Old and New——The
usual Course of True Love——Marriage Ceremony——No Kissing——The
Dance——The Methodist Pastor and the Priest——The Catholics
Liberal (?)——A Stupid Preacher——Common Sense in Religion——
Indian Comments——Defective Schools——Unwritten History of Grand
Round Agency——Old and Forsaken 120

CHAPTER IX.

THE AGED PAIR——BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDS.

The Scene Changes——The River Steamer——The Railroad——The Battle
Ground——Causes of War and Slaughter——A Legend of the Cascades——
Battles——Divine Interpositions——Soul-stirring Traditions——The
Waiting Dead——Sacrilegious Hunters——McNulty, the Noble
Captain——Mount Hood——Mount Adams——Sublime Scenery——The Dalles——
The Salmon Fishery——Its Value——Habits of the Salmon——
Commencement of the Fishing Scenery——Indian Superstition——
Methods of Catching and Curing Salmon 138

CHAPTER X.

DANGEROUS PLACE FOR SINNERS.

Warm Spring Agency——Indians in Treaty Council——Intimidated by
Government Troops——Pledges Unfulfilled——John Mission and Billy
Chinook——They become Converts to Christianity——Treachery of
the Government——Why? because the Indians are Peaceable——
Journey to the Agency Continued——Crossing the Stream——Fire and
Brimstone——A Perilous Descent——The Author’s Report——This
Agency a Fraud——Climate of Warm Springs——Character of the
Indians Here——The Two Treaties——The Indians Declare they were
Deceived——A Great Injustice——Unfitness of the Warm Spring
Agency——Captain John Smith——His Character——His Communication——
A Careful Perusal Urged 150

CHAPTER XI.

THE PARSON BROWNLOW OF THE INDIAN SERVICE.

Captain Smith’s Letter——His Opinion of Catholics——The Indian
Council——An Indian Leads in Prayer——Appearance of this
Council——It was like a Methodist Revival Scene——The Head
Chief’s Speech——He abjures Polygamy——The Author’s Reply——Mark
wants to Change his Name——He selects the Name of Meacham——
Marks’ Second Wife, Matola——Her Speech——John Mission speaks——
Speech of Billy Chinook——Hand-shaking and Enrolling Names——
Pi-a-noose——His Speech——Two Kinds of Indians on this Agency——
The Trial Policy of the Government 160

CHAPTER XII.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME——SQUAWS IN HOOPS AND CHIGNONS.

Umatilla Agency——The Council——Its Object——The Purchase by the
Government of the Reservation——A. B. Meacham’s Speech——Many
Indian Speeches (See Appendix, Chap. XII.)——The Council Fairly
Conducted——Religion of the Umatilla Indians——Wealth a Curse to
Them——They Take the First Prizes——They are Haughty, Proud and
Intractable——“Susan,” the Widow——Her “Receptions”——The Dance——
Women’s Rights——Susan a Good Catholic. 181