USA > Washington > History of Washington; the rise and progress of an American state, Vol. III > Part 22
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Having secured this escort the governor and General Palmer proceeded up the river with their goods and supplies, reaching the council grounds on May 21st. Here they found that Secretary Doty and C. P. Higgins, who was in charge of the pack trains, had arranged the camp and made every- thing ready for the council. A wall tent, with a large arbor of poles, covered with boughs, in front of it, stood on level open ground, a short distance from Mill Creek, a tributary of the Walla Walla River. This was to serve as the council chamber, and an ample space had been prepared for the Indians who were to seat themselves on the ground in front of the tent. Near by were the tents for the party, while a stout log house contained the supplies and goods to be distributed as presents after the treaty should be signed, and near it was a large arbor to serve as a banquet hall for the distinguished chiefs. A large herd of beef cattle, and a pile of potatoes purchased from the old Hudson's Bay people who had taken claims in the neighborhood, with ample stores of sugar, coffee, bacon and flour were to pro- vide materials for the table.
It was now arranged that Governor Stevens should preside at the council; that each superintendent was to be sole commissioner for the Indians wholly within his jurisdiction; that both were to act together for the tribes inhabiting lands in both territories; that each was to appoint an agent and a commissary, who should distribute goods and provisions among the Indians in proportion to the number in each jurisdiction; that separate records were to be kept, to be carefully compared and certified, so far as they related to the tribes common to both territories, and that a public
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table was to be kept for the entertainment of the chiefs.
Governor Stevens appointed James Doty as his secretary, R. H. Crosby as his commissary, R. H. Lansdale agent, and William Craig and Narcisse Raymond interpreters. William C. McKay was secretary for General Palmer, N. Olney commissary, R. R. Thompson agent, Matthew Dampher and John Flett interpreters. Later A. D. Pan- brum, John Whitford, James Coxie and Patrick McKensie were appointed as additional interpreters.
Lieutenant Gracie, with his soldiers, arrived on the 23d and fixed his camp near that of the negotiators. He was accompanied by Mr. Lawrence Kip, who subsequently wrote a very full and interesting account of the council. Father Chirouse of Walla Walla and Father Pandozy of the Yakima mission and Father Menetrey from the Pend Oreilles were also present. They reported that the Indians were generally well disposed toward the council, with the excep- tion of Kam-i-ah-kan, who had said: "If the governor speaks hard I will speak hard too," and some of his followers had boasted that "Kam-i-ah-kan will come with his young men with powder and ball."
The negotiators and their escort and assistants were now assembled, and numbered altogether barely a hundred people, half of whom at least were noncombatants. They were soon to be surrounded by fully five thousand Indians, many of whom were disaffected and not a few absolutely hostile.
The Indians were slow in making their appearance. It was not until two days after the negotiators had pitched their camp, that the first considerable number appeared. These were the Nez Perces, and they were much the largest of all the tribes to be treated with. Their arrival was savagely ceremonious and imposing. They first sent forward the
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American flag given them by the soldiers in the Cayuse war, and planted it on a slight elevation not far from the tents of the commissioners. Then the warriors, to the number of a thousand or more, naked to the waist, and with their faces painted, advanced on horseback, at a mad gallop, to a point near this standard, where they formed a line and halted. Then the principal chief accompanied by three or four others, rode forward, dismounted and shook hands with the commissioners. They were followed by about twenty-five other chiefs, who in turn advanced, dismounted and shook hands. Then the entire troop of horsemen wheeled away over the plain and forming a single line bore down on the camp at a gallop, as before, until reaching the flag, when each alternate horseman bore to the right and left, forming two great circles surrounding the camp, the lines going in opposite directions. The horses were without saddles, many of them were painted like their riders, or gaily decked with streamers of various colors, and each was guided only by a small thong fastened about its lower jaw. After making three or four circuits, the horses being urged to their utmost speed, the riders beating their tom-toms, and yelling as if in the wildest fury, the horses were brought to a halt, the Indians dismounted and took their stations in rear of their chiefs. Then a num- ber of young men formed a ring, and while some beat their drums, the others entertained the commissioners with a dance, after which they filed off to the camp which had been desig- nated for them. This was on a small stream flowing nearly parallel with Mill Creek, and over a mile from the council grounds. The chiefs accompanied the commissioners to their tent, where they smoked the pipe of peace and had an informal talk.
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On the following day the Cayuses, Walla Wallas and Umatillas arrived and went into camp without any parade, on a stream beyond Mill Creek over a mile distant from the council grounds, from which it was entirely hidden by an intervening fringe of trees. They were evidently not in a very friendly mood. Their chiefs made no ceremonious visits to the commissioners, and would accept no provisions from them, a very unfavorable sign. Old Peo-peo-mox-mox of the Walla Wallas, whose son Elijah had been killed in California in Whitman's time, sent word that his people were provided with all the food they required, and proposed that Young Chief of the Cayuses, Lawyer, Kam-i-ah-kan and himself should do all the talking for the Indians in the council. His messenger would accept no tobacco either for his chiefs or for himself, a very unfriendly indication. It soon appeared that these new arrivals were endeavoring to persuade the Nez Perces to refuse to receive provisions from the commissioners, but the latter took great pride in their friendship for the whites and refused to be persuaded.
These unfriendly manifestations were observed by the commissioners, and those with them with some concern. They began to hear that the tribes had combined, or were try- ing to combine to oppose the treaty, and there was some anxiety lest the opening of the council should be a signal for an outbreak. Kam-i-ah-kan and the Yakimas had not yet arrived. He had refused the presents offered him by Secre- tary Doty when he invited him to the council, and had boasted that he had never accepted anything from the whites, "not even the value of a grain of wheat, without paying for it, and that he did not wish to purchase presents."
On the next day after the arrival of the Cayuses, a body of four hundred mounted Indians, supposed to be Cayuses
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and Walla Wallas, approached the council grounds on their horses, arrayed in full gala dress, and yelling as if they were making a genuine hostile demonstration, but after riding three times around the Nez Perce camp they departed. Soon afterward several of the chiefs rode up to the camp of the commissioners and on being invited to dismount did so, with evident reluctance, and shook hands very coldly. They refused to smoke and remained but a short time. Governor Stevens said of these Indians after their departure, that they more nearly resembled those described by writers of fiction than any others he had met during his experience in the West.
On May 27th, which was Sunday, religious services were held in the camp of the Nez Perces, in which Timothy, a native preacher, delivered a sermon on the Ten Command- ments.
The next day Agent Bolon was sent, with an interpreter, to meet the Yakimas, who were reported to be approaching. He brought back information that he had met Kam-i-ah-kan and Peo-peo-mox-mox together, and that the latter had told him that he was sorry to know that the commissioners had been told that he was unfriendly to the whites, and that "his heart was with the Cayuses, whose hearts were bad." He had always been friendly to the white people, and was so now, and he would go today to see the commissioners and ask why such things had been said of him. Accordingly, soon after Bolon's return Peo-peo-mox-mox, Kam-i-ah-kan, Ow-hi and several other chiefs of the Yakimas arrived and, dismounting, shook hands in a very friendly way, and then, seating themselves under the arbor, joined the others in a smoke, but used their own tobacco, although other tobacco was offered them.
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Now that all had arrived Governor Stevens proposed to them to open the council the next day at noon. Peo-peo- mox-mox suggested that more than one interpreter be em- ployed, so that the Indians might know that everything said and proposed was correctly interpreted. He was assured that this should be done, and was invited to name an inter- preter of his own, but he replied scornfully that he did not wish his young men to be found running around the camp of the white men like those of the Nez Perces.
Of the chiefs who were now assembled, Hal-hal-tlos-sots of the Nez Perces was undoubtedly the wisest and most trustworthy, Peo-peo-mox-mox the most crafty, Kam-i-ah- kan the ablest, and Young Chief of the Cayuses the most violent. Hal-hal-tlos-sots, more generally known as the Lawyer, had won his influence in his numerous and power- ful tribe by his wisdom in council rather than by his prowess in war, although he had distinguished himself in battle, and years before had received a wound from which he occasionally still suffered. He knew how to control the turbulent spirits among his people without making any boastful assertion of his authority, and was to show during the succeeding days how absolute and perfect that authority was. Fortunately he was favorably disposed toward the commissioners, and but for that fact their negotiations must have come to naught. It is even possible that they would not have been completed.
Peo-peo-mox-mox was still what he had shown himself to be in Whitman's time-suspicious, treacherous, willing enough to do mischief at any time, and restrained only by "letting I dare not wait upon I would." His son Elijah had been brutally murdered by a white man in California years before, when he had gone there for cattle, and he had
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never taken a satisfactory revenge for it. He was the richest of all the chiefs, owning hundreds and perhaps thousands of horses and cattle, and he was yearly adding to his gains by trading with the immigrants, as they passed through his country, and biding his time.
Five Crows, the young chief who had carried Miss Bewley away to his tepee after the massacre at Waiilatpu, six years before, was still powerful in his tribe, though the influence of Young Chief was greater than his. The Cayuses were now only a handful compared with what they were in Whitman's time, and they were sulky and implacable. It was evident enough from the actions of these two that they were not favorable to the treaty.
Kam-i-ah-kan of the Yakimas was easily the greatest chief present. He was to the tribes west of the Rocky Mountains what Pontiac and Tecumpseh had been to their people on the eastern side, in their time. Stevens says of him: "He is a peculiar man, reminding me of the panther and the grizzly bear. His countenance has an extraordinary play; one moment in frowns, the next in smiles-flashing with light and black as Erebus the same instant. His pantomime is great, and his gesticulation much and charac- teristic. He talks mostly with his face, and with his hands and arms."* Although his voice was not heard for open war, he was nevertheless the Moloch of the council. Cherishing a deep hatred of the white people in his heart, he had for two years past been planning a general uprising, send- ing his messengers to the Shoshones, along the immigrant trail on the upper waters of the Snake; to the Nisqually
* Winthrop met Kam-i-ah-kan at Father Pandozy's mission in 1853, and gives an interesting description of him in "Canoe and Saddle," P. 234.
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tribes on Puget Sound, and even to his ancient enemies on the Willamette and Umpqua, whom he had often plun- dered in years gone by, but whom he had now more than half persuaded to forget that he had despoiled them, and join with him for the extermination of those who were gradually taking possession of their country. With him came Ow-hi and Skloom, powerful chiefs in his tribe, but still subservient to his wishes, and quite content to be the lieutenants of one who was so easily their superior.
Garry of the Spokanes, whom Sir George Simpson had sent to the Red River country when a boy, to be educated in the schools there, and who spoke English fluently, had also arrived, although a separate council had been planned for his tribe, and those farther to the northeast. He was to be present simply as an observer. The messenger who had been sent to summon the Palouses returned accompanied only by a single chief, who reported that his people were indifferent and would not come.
On the morning of the 28th, the commissioners and Secretary Doty visited the Lawyer in his lodge, as he was suffering from his wound, and could not move about without great difficulty. He had prepared a map of his country, at Governor Stevens' request, and while the party were examining it a subchief, known as Spotted Eagle, came in and informed the commissioners that the Cayuses wanted the Nez Perces to go to their camp and hold a council with them and Peo-peo-mox-mox; but he and his people were not inclined to counsel with them, or ask them for their advice. The messengers from the Cayuses' camp had been very urgent, but he had sent them away, assuring them that he and his people would have nothing to do with them. This was additional evidence to the commissioners that the
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Cayuses, Walla Wallas and the Yakimas, while pretending friendship, were really plotting mischief.
At two o'clock that afternoon, the council was formally opened by Governor Stevens. The two commissioners, surrounded by their secretaries, interpreters and other members of their party, took their places at a small table beneath the arbor, in front of the commissioners' tent, while the Indians of all the tribes seated themselves in semi- circular rows in front of them. Timothy, the native preacher, with several of his young men who were very tolerable pen- men, were provided with a table near the commissioners, and kept a record of their own. It was estimated that fully two thousand Indians were present, fully half of whom were Nez Perces.
The pipe of peace having been smoked, with due solem- nity, two interpreters were appointed and sworn for each tribe, some preliminary speeches were made and the council was adjourned till ten o'clock the next morning.
Before adjournment Governor Stevens renewed his offer of provisions to all the tribes, proposing that each should take two oxen to his own camp and slaughter them for them- selves, but this offer was declined by the Cayuses and the Yakimas, Young Chief replying that he had plenty of cattle, and that Kam-i-ah-kan was supplied at his camp. Peo-peo- mox-mox dined with the commissioners, and remained in their tent for a long smoke, and chatting in a friendly manner, but Young Chief refused to be of the party.
During the two following days the treaties were read and interpreted, sentence by sentence, so that there could be no doubt that all the Indians present understood them in every particular. Only two reservations were at this time pro- posed, one for the Nez Perces on the north side of the Snake
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River, embracing both the Kooskooskie and Salmon rivers- in all about three million acres, a large part of which was good arable land with fine fisheries. The other was on the upper waters of the Yakima, and was for the Yakimas, Klikitats, Palouses and other kindred bands. These reser- vations were to be provided with schools, mechanics and farmers, with grist mills and saw mills, and the head chiefs were to receive in addition an annuity of $500 each for ten years; the annuities for the tribes, in clothing, tools and goods were to be given for twenty years. It was also explained that the governor was then on his way to the Black- foot country to make a lasting treaty of peace with that tribe, so that all tribes west of the mountains might go into that country to hunt the buffalo in safety.
The Indians listened to all the explanations with very close attention, and with some evidences of favor. The third day the Young Chief for the first time accepted Gover- nor Stevens' invitation to dine with himself, General Palmer and the other chiefs, and in the evening he sent word that his people were tired of such close confinement as they had been under during the last three or four days, and asked that the next day might be set apart as a holiday. The commissioners very readily granted this request, as it seemed to indicate that all the Indians were considering the treaties with more favor. The holiday was spent in horse racing and foot racing, and other contests of strength, agility and endurance in which the Indians so much delight, during which the utmost good feeling apparently prevailed and when they reassembled on the morning of the succeeding day, they appeared to be in still better humor, and several hours were spent in further explaining the treaties and their several provisions, after which the governor cordially invited
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all the chiefs present to express their views in regard to them.
Peo-peo-mox-mox was the first to accept this invitation. He complained of the seeming haste of the commissioners to have the treaties concluded and signed. The Indians needed more time to think about them. He did not know that they might not have misunderstood some part of what had been said to them. He carefully indicated that the commissioners might not have spoken straight. Since the whites had begun to come among his people they had made them do what they pleased, and of some of the things done he did not approve. He knew that the commissioners intended to win their country, and he wanted to be sure of what the Indians were to get for it. If goods were offered he did not think he ought to accept them, although some of the Indians were inclined to do so. Goods and the earth were not equal. Goods were for using on the earth, and he did not know where people had given lands for goods.
While he was talking some of the Cayuses had disturbed the proceedings by walking about the council grounds, and conducting themselves in a very unfriendly and disor- derly manner, and they were rebuked for it by Camospelo, one of their chiefs, after which the council again adjourned.
Late that evening the Lawyer came to Governor Stevens' tent and, with some evidence of uneasiness, informed him that the Cayuses were planning to massacre the council party, and had been holding nightly conferences for some time past to perfect their plans. These were now all arranged, and had been agreed upon in a full council of the tribe, and they were now only waiting for the Yakimas and Walla Wallas to agree to join them. He believed that the latter had either joined or were on the point of joining the
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Cayuses in a war of extermination. Their plan was first to massacre the governor and his party, and after capturing and dividing the goods which had been brought to the treaty grounds, were to attack the Dalles.
The Lawyer concluded his story by saying that he would come with his family and pitch his lodge among the tents of the council party, so that the Cayuses might see that they were under the protection of the Nez Perces. This offer was accepted, and although it was after midnight, he imme- diately took his lodge to the council grounds, and sent word to the other tribes that the council party was now under his protection.
On Monday the governor opened proceedings by again inviting the Indians to express their opinions, urging them to speak with the utmost freedom. The Lawyer was the first to speak; he favored the treaty. Kam-i-ah-kan fol- lowed. He had something different to say from what the Lawyer had said. He was afraid of the white men-their ways were so different from those of his people. Perhaps they were talking straight; let them do as they had promised.
Peo-peo-mox-mox was still in a surly mood. He did not wish to speak. He would leave that to the old men, he said. Steachus, the only chief of the Cayuses who was favorable to the treaty, approved the speech of the Lawyer, and was followed by Tip-pee-il-lan-oh-cow-pook, the Eagle from the Light, a Nez Perce, who recounted the story of the efforts of his people to find light in the east, and of their experience with the whites. The Hudson's Bay people had told them to go one way, and the Americans had advised them to go another. A long time ago one of them had hanged his brother for no offense. Then Spalding and Whitman came. They taught them well for a time. But
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Spalding had sent his father to the east and he never returned. Then when blood was spilled his own chief had tried to prove his friendship for the missionaries, and he too was slain, and his body was never returned. When a great council was held at Fort Laramie his people were asked to go there, and some of them did go; some never returned- they died hunting for what was right. They went to find good counsel in the east, and he was here asking good counsel, and to know what it was best to do.
One cause of complaint he had to urge, and that was that a preacher had once come to teach them, and had taught them well for a time, but he afterwards turned to be a trader, as if there were two in one. He made a farm and raised grain, and bought the Indians' stock, as though there were two in one-one a preacher and the other a trader. He did not want another preacher to come and be both preacher and trader. A piece of ground big enough to build a house upon was big enough for a preacher.
He approved the treaty generally, and he believed all would "come straight-slowly perhaps, but we will come straight."
After some further explanations by Governor Stevens and General Palmer, Steachus of the Cayuses expressed dissatisfaction that his people were to have no reservation of their own, but would be compelled to leave their own country and live with others. This led to a rearrangement, by which a third reservation south of the Columbia was proposed for the Cayuses, Walla Wallas and Umatillas, and the council was again adjourned until all could further consider.
When the council again assembled the Lawyer made another speech recommending the acceptance of the treaty. He was followed by Young Chief, who declared that he would
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not sell his country. The earth and the water said that God had given them to the Indians to produce food for them, and they ought not to sell them, except for a fair price. Five Crows and Ow-hi were of the same opinion. Peo-peo- mox-mox thought the council ought to be adjourned to a future time. He did not want the white people to come to his country to live, and he complained that the Indians were being treated like children, as they were not consulted as they should be in preparing the terms of the treaty. Kam-i- ah-kan refused to speak though several times urged to do so.
Mr. Kip says that some of the chiefs objected that they were not shown what they were to receive for their lands. They were told they were to receive certain goods, and useful articles of various sorts, but they did not see them. They thought, or pretended to think, that the commissioners should have brought these articles with them to the treaty grounds, so that the Indians might see what they were.
Governor Stevens and General Palmer both replied with great patience to this captious objection, explaining how impossible it would be to bring all the blankets, clothing, plows, wagons, schoolhouses, grist and saw mills, and numberless other things that the Great Father was to send them, to their country until it was known that they had agreed to receive them, and until much preparation had been made for their transportation. The Indians knew well enough what most or all of these things were, and the value of them. The missionaries had brought them into their country, and they had enjoyed the use and benefit of them for many years.
When the commissioners had finished their long explana- tion Five Crows suggested another adjournment. The
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