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Slavery. — Slavery is thoroughly interwoven witli the social polity of 

 the Indians of the coast section of Oregon and Washington Territory. 

 East of the Cascades, though it exists, it is not so common; the equestrian 

 habits of the tribes living there probably rendering it less profitable or 

 convenient than among the more settled inhabitants of the coast. South- 

 ward it ceases, so far as my observation has gone, with the Siskiou Mount- 

 ains, which divide Oregon from California. Many of the slaves held here 

 ai'e, however, brought from California, where they were taken by the war- 

 like and predatory Indians of the plains, and sold to the Kallapuia and 

 Tsiufdv. The system probably originated in wars, all prisoners becom- 

 ing slaves as a matter of course, though as usual they have some fanciful 

 modes of accounting for it. Thus some of the Sound Indians told Colonel 

 Simmons that the first was made on the occasion of a great feast, when one 

 of the guests criticised the cooking of the fish. The others, disgusted at 

 his ill-breeding, debated upon his punishment. Some were for killing him; 

 but it was finally decided to make him a slave, that he might always serve 

 his insulted host, which accordingly was done. However this may be, the 

 occasions of making them have since greatly multiplied. Thus, if one 

 Indian has wronged another, and failed to make compensa,tion, or if a 

 debtor is insolent, he may be taken as a slave. Their mode of procedure is 

 characterized by their wonted deliberation. The plaintiff comes with a 

 party to demand satisfaction, and holds out to the other the option of pay- 

 ment or servitude. If no satisfaction is given he must submit unless he is 

 strong enough to do battle. And this slavery is final degradation. The 

 rule of once a slave always a slave extends so far that if the debtor should 

 have given up some relative in his power, and subsequently^ redeems him, 

 he becomes his slave in turn. If a man purchase his father or mother, 

 they become his slaves, and are treated as such. The children of slaves 

 by others are slaves likewise. And the childi'en of a man by his own 

 slaves are but half free ; they do not rank as seahb-viri. Even if one pur- 

 chases his own freedom, he is yet looked upon as an inferior. A distinction 

 is to be made as regards women, that whereas in one sense they are always 

 slaves or property, yet when a man sells or pays away his sister or daughter, 

 she, if born of free parents, becomes the wife of the creditor or purchaser, 



