These are a very numerous people, inhabiting the shores of the Columbia
River, and a vast tract of country lying to the South of it, and living
in a country which is exceedingly sterile and almost entirely, in many
parts, destitute of game for the subsistence of the savage; they are
mostly obliged to live on roots, which they dig from the ground, and
fish which they take from the streams; the consequences of which are,
that they are generally poor and miserably clad; and in no respect
equal to the Indians of whom I have heretofore spoken, who live on the
East of the Rocky Mountains, in the ranges of the buffaloes; where they
are well-fed, and mostly have good horses to ride, and materials in
abundance for manufacturing their beautiful and comfortable dresses.
The people generally denominated Flat Heads, are divided into a great
many bands, and although they have undoubtedly got their name from the
custom of flattening the head; yet there are but very few of those so
denominated, who actually practice that extraordinary custom.
The _Nez Percés_ who inhabit the upper waters and mountainous parts of
the Columbia, are a part of this tribe, though they are seldom known
to flatten the head like those lower down, and about the mouth of the
river. _Hee-oh’ks-te-kin_ (the rabbit skin leggings, +plate+ 207), and
_H’co-a-h’co a-h’cotes-min_ (no horns on his head, +plate+ 208), are
young men of this tribe. These two young men, when I painted them,
were in beautiful Sioux dresses, which had been presented to them
in a talk with the Sioux, who treated them very kindly, while passing
through the Sioux country. These two men were part of a delegation that
came across the Rocky Mountains to St. Louis, a few years since, to
enquire for the truth of a representation which they said some white
man had made amongst them, “that our religion was better than theirs,
and that they would all be lost if they did not embrace it.”
[Illustration: 207 208]
[Illustration: 209 210]
Two old and venerable men of this party died in St. Louis, and I
travelled two thousand miles, companion with these two young fellows,
towards their own country, and became much pleased with their manners
and dispositions.
The last mentioned of the two, died near the mouth of the Yellow
Stone River on his way home, with disease which he had contracted
in the civilized district; and the other one I have since learned,
arrived safely amongst his friends, conveying to them the melancholy
intelligence of the deaths of all the rest of his party; but assurances
at the same time, from General Clark, and many Reverend gentlemen,
that the report which they had heard was well founded; and that
missionaries, good and religious men, would soon come amongst them to
teach this religion, so that they could all understand and have the
benefits of it.
When I first heard the report of the object of this extraordinary
mission across the mountains, I could scarcely believe it; but on
conversing with General Clark on a future occasion, I was fully
convinced of the fact; and I, like thousands of others, have had the
satisfaction of witnessing the complete success that has crowned the
bold and daring exertions of Mr. Lee and Mr. Spalding, two Reverend
gentlemen who have answered in a Christian manner to this unprecedented
call; and with their wives have crossed the most rugged wilds and
wildernesses of the Rocky Mountains, and triumphantly proved to the
world, that the Indians, in their native wilds are a kind and friendly
people, and susceptible of mental improvement.
I had long been of the opinion, that to ensure success, the exertions
of pious men should be carried into the heart of the wilderness, beyond
the reach and influence of civilized vices; and I so expressed my
opinion to the Reverend Mr. Spalding and his lady, in Pittsburgh, when
on their way, in their first Tour to that distant country. I have seen
the Reverend Mr. Lee and several others of the mission, several years
since the formation of their school; as well as several gentlemen who
have visited their settlement, and from all, I am fully convinced of
the complete success of these excellent and persevering gentlemen, in
proving to the world the absurdity of the assertion that has been often
made, “that the Indian can never be civilized or christianized.” Their
uninterrupted transit over such a vast and wild journey, also, with
their wives on horseback, who were everywhere on their way, as well as
amongst the tribes where they have located, treated with the utmost
kindness and respect, bears strong testimony to the assertions so often
made by travellers in those countries, that these are, in their native
state, a kind and excellent people.
I hope I shall on a future occasion, be able to give the reader some
further detailed account of the success of these zealous and excellent
men, whose example, of penetrating to the _heart_ of the Indian
country, and _there_ teaching the Indian in the true and effective
way, will be a lasting honour to themselves, and I fully believe, a
permanent benefit to those ignorant and benighted people.