30 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 1 10 



as his land the Flathead River country to the north occupied by the 

 Upper Pend d'Oreille, as well as the Bitterroot Valley, he insisted 

 that it was not a large tract. "There is a very little land here: I 

 cannot offer you a large piece." (Ibid., p. 289.) 



Victor was willing for all the tribes to go on one reservation but 

 would not consider moving to the Flathead Valley. Alexander, the 

 Upper Pend d'Oreille chief, preferred the northern location. In an 

 effort to break the deadlock, Stevens expressed an opinion that the 

 Bitterroot Valley was the better site because its climate was milder, 

 it was nearer to camas and bitterroot, and more convenient for 

 buffalo. But he could not convince Alexander. Hoping that time for 

 private discussion might provide a solution to the problem, Governor 

 Stevens declared the next day a holiday on which he feasted the 

 Indians. 



When the Council reconvened, Stevens believed majority sentiment 

 favored the northern location. Therefore, he again described the 

 treaty provisions and proposed a reservation within an area bounded 

 by the Jocko River, Flathead Lake, Flathead River, and the moun- 

 tains. He called on Victor to sign the treaty. Victor refused. 



Then the Flathead chief, Ambrose, revealed that on the preceding 

 day Alexander had approached Victor with an offer to move to the 

 Bitterroot Valley, but Victor had refused to answer the Pend d'Oreille 

 chief. After hearing this, Stevens lost patience with Victor and 

 spoke sharply: "Does Victor want to treat? Why did he not say to 

 Alexander yesterday, come to my place ? or is not Victor a chief ? Is 

 he as one of his people has called him, an old woman? dumb as a 

 dog? If Victor is a chief let him speak now." 



Probably angry and somewhat confused, Victor replied that he 

 had not understood Alexander's offer, that he recalled Governor 

 Stevens had himself chosen the Bitterroot Valley as the better loca- 

 tion. Then the lesser Flathead chiefs sought to explain Victor's 

 silence of the previous day, stressing the variety of opinion among 

 the Flathead, Victor's habitual thoughtfulness and slowness of speech. 

 Probably Red Wolf stated the matter precisely when he said, "I know 

 that if Alexander should come to the valley, his people would not 

 follow him." Doubtless Victor had no more faith in the practicality 

 of Alexander's offer. While the others continued to talk, Victor quietly 

 walked out of the Council. 



Governor Stevens decided to give Victor more time to consider. 

 Next day, Saturday, Victor sent word that he had not made up his 

 mind. The Council was postponed until Monday. (Ibid., pp. 301-308.) 



