My Life and Experiences Among Our Hostile Indians (e-book) (used book) | bookbook.eu

Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 Excerpt: ...were picturesque and all the buildings good, and showy fences surrounded wellkept gardens. Years before this time everything had been transferred to the Indian bureau, and Fort Simcoe was now the headquarters of the Yakima Indian agency. The agent, the head chief, Joe Stwyre, and the Indian police were ever ready to help Colonel Watkins perf orm his part. They were to assemble the renegades and nomads of the Columbia and start them, like the Yakimas, on the road to civilization. White people said to Joe S twyre: ' You '11 be killed if you go to Smohollie!" "No, no," he answered, " I will not be killed; I will go. I will go and carry the good message!" Smohollie received him gladly and hastened with his leading Indians toward Simcoe. So also did Moses, whom the messengers found at Priest's Rapids, far up the Columbia, and so did other wandering tribes along the river valley. Pambrum, the interpreter, who spoke a language that all Walla Wallas and Cayuses could understand, came to us from his home near the Touchet River. By Saturday the 8th of June all the Indians far and near, north of the Columbia River, had come together to meet us. We had a large tent-fly stretched in a beautiful grove, and this together with the trees afforded a grateful shade during the intense heat. There is nowhere so much formality as in an Indian council. There were Colonel Watkins, Agent Wilbur, and our military selves--white men and ladies--all occupying comfortable seats; facing us were the Indians seated on benches or chairs. In the first row, from right to left, in order of their supposed rank, were Moses, Smohollie, One-eyed John, Calwash, Skemiah, Thomas, and others. Other renegades came in behind, sitting or squatting as Indians do. The background wa...