SPOKAN PLAINS. 157 



country we reach the Spokan plains, which are 

 open grassy wastes, very like the barren grounds 

 we travelled through from Walla- walla to Colville. 



The Spokan Indians live principally on these 

 plains, Gerry being their chief. Gerry speaks 

 very understandable English, which he picked up 

 whilst acting as guide to Sir George Simpson. 

 This large tribe has been awfully crippled by 

 Colonel Wright, previously spoken of as com- 

 manding the United States troops at Walla- 

 walla. The Indians made a cowardly attack on 

 some unarmed dragoons exercising their horses, 

 killed several men, and stole all the horses. 

 Colonel Wright, in retaliation, marched into their 

 stronghold, and after a brisk skirmish, routed 

 them, taking several of the leaders prisoners, and 

 with them a celebrated chief. These were all 

 hung where the fight took place. Then all the 

 Indian horses that could be collected were driven 

 together by order of the Colonel and shot ; 700 

 were thus killed ; three days were occupied in 

 shooting the poor beasts down. I state the fact 

 as it was told me. 



Branching off in a north-easterly direction, the 

 trail leads through a thickly- wooded country to 

 the Pend Oreille river, where our depot, Syniak- 

 wateen (Indian, the ' crossing :' vide illustration), 



