INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 415 



kanes, though in most respects unattractive to settlement by the whites, is well suited to the pur 

 suits of the Indian. 



The high plain, which extends from the Spokane river to Lewis s fork of the Columbia, and 

 which belongs chiefly to them and the Nez Perces, though bleak and exposed to violent winds, 

 affords grazing for their stock and an abundance of the roots used by themselves for food, while 

 their river supplies them with salmon. They obtain buffalo hides for their lodges, and skins of 

 elk, carraboo, and deer, for their own clothing, in their semi-annual hunts to the eastward. 



Of the larger game there is but little in their own country. The buffalo, it would seem, in 

 former times penetrated at least occasionally thus far to the westward, though now they never 

 come through the northern passes. We were informed by an old Iroquois hunter at Fort Colville, 

 who has been some forty-eight years in the company s service, that the last bull was killed some 

 twenty-five years ago in the Grand Coulee. 



Of the remaining tribes of the nation it will be necessary to speak even more briefly, for our 

 journey did not bring us in contact with them, and but little can be added to what has been before 

 published. 



The Skitswish, or Cceur d Alenes, live upon the upper part of the Coeur d Alene river, above 

 the Spokanes, and around the lake of the same name. They are estimated by Dr. Dart as only 

 two hundred in number, which is believed, however, to be too low an estimate. Father Menga- 

 rini, formerly missionary among the Flatheads, gives as his opinion that they reach four hundred 

 and fifty. A mean has been adopted in the recapitulation. This tribe has also a missionary 

 station belonging to the Order of Jesuits. 



The Kalispelms, or Pend d Oreilles of the Lower Lake, inhabit the country north of the Coeur 

 d Alenes and around the Kalispelm lake. Dr. Dart gives their population as five hundred and 

 twenty, which is but little short of Father Mengarini s. 



The Slka-tkml-schi, or Pend d Oreilles of the Upper Lake, a tribe who, by the consent of the 

 Selish, occupy jointly with -them the country of the latter. According to the same authorities, 

 they reach about four hundred and eighty. 



The Selish proper, or Flatheads, inhabit St. Mary s or the Flathead valley, and the neigh 

 borhood of the lake of the same name. Mr. John Owen, who occupies the site of the old Jesuit 

 mission of St. Mary s as a trading-post, says that there remain of these but sixty-five lodges, of 

 about five to a lodge, giving a total of three hundred and twenty -five a number considerably 

 exceeding Dr. Dart s estimate, which is but two hundred and ten. 



The tribe was once a very powerful one, but has been much diminished by the attacks of the 

 Blackfeet, who enter into their country through the mountain passes, or meet them in their hunts 

 upon the eastern side. 



Their custom is to make two hunts annually across the mountains one in April, for the bulls, 

 from which they return in June and July; and another, after about a month s recruit, to kill 

 cows, which have by that time become fat. In these excursions they are accompanied by that 

 portion of the Pend d Oreilles who live in their country, and about one hundred lodges of the Nez 

 Perces, as well as parties from such other tribes as see fit to join them. Their country is admi 

 rably adapted for grazing, and they possess about one thousand head of American cattle, which 

 were introduced by the worthy and zealous Father De Smet. 



They are not rich in horses, but still have many good ones, though frequently robbed by their 

 enemies, the Blackfeet. They get no salmon, but live altogether by the hunt, and do not manifest 

 any disposition to agricultural pursuits or fixed residence. They have no canoes, but in ferrying 

 streams use their lodge skins, which are drawn up into an oval form by cords, and stretched on 

 a few twigs. These they tow with horses, riding sometimes three abreast. Their own territory 

 still furnishes them with ordinary kinds of game elk, moose, black and white-tailed deer, the 

 bighorn, and bears. Beaver and otter are abundant. 



The mission of St. Mary s was abandoned in 1850, the habits of the Flatheads leaving the mis- 



