NARRATIVE OF 1853. 133 
when we halted at a beautiful camp, although the day’s march had been but twelve miles. 
Learning from Antoine that the Cœur d' Aléne Mission was only eleven miles beyond, I deter- 
mined on going in to-night. Antoine and I accordingly mounted and rode to the mission in an 
hour and three-quarters. 
CŒUR D'ALÉNE MISSION. 
The Mission (see sketch) is beautifully located upon a hill overlooking extensive prairies 
stretching to the east and west toward the Coeur d' Aléne mountains and the Columbia river. 
About a hundred acres of the Eastern prairie adjoining the Mission are enclosed and under 
cultivation, furnishing employment to thirty or forty Indians—men, women, and children. I 
observed two ploughing, which they executed skillfully; others were sowing wheat, and others 
digging potatoes. Pére Gazzoli received me with the most pleasing hospitality. Associated 
with him are Pére Ravalli, now absent to procure supplies, and Brothers Charles Huet and 
Maginn. The latter, however, is a layman, attached to the Pend d'Oreille Mission, who is here 
at this time to assist in harvesting. "Towards evening I witnessed the burial of an Indian chief. 
The funeral ceremonies were conducted after the Catholic form, and I was struck with the 
harmonious voices of the Indian choristers, and with their solemn observance of the ceremonies. 
The Mission is composed of buildings enclosing a square. Some of them are quite old, but 
the barn is large and new. The church stands a little distance from the rest, and does much 
credit to those who erected it. It is constructed upon a plan designed by Pére Ravalli, and is 
of the Roman demi style of architecture. Pulleys and ropes were the only mechanical aids in 
the construction. Pére Ravalli is quite an architect, and drew up many designs before the one 
adopted was selected. In his room, which I was kindly given to occupy, was hislibrary. I 
observed that it contained several standard works on architecture. The church was not com- 
pleted, although sufficiently so for the performance of service within. The interior is prettily 
arranged. The altar is supported by two massive timbers of pine which are about four feet in 
diameter. We were informed that in erecting these pillars an Indian who was holding one of 
them became frightened and let it fall, fortunately without injury to any one. The priests live 
in a self-denying manner, and the good effects of their influence over the Indians around them 
are plainly manifest. 
There is quite a village of Indians near the Mission. They have some half dozen log-houses, 
but most of them live in lodges. : 
October 13.— While awaiting the arrival of the train, I was enabled more particularly to 
Observe the manner in which the affairs of the Mission were conducted. Brother Charles has 
charge of the buildings and attends to the indoor work, cooks, makes — ae cheese, Pm 
provisions, and pays the Indians for their work, which payment is made " tickets bearing a 
certain value, ‘‘good for so many potatoes or 80 much wheat," &c. wy this management the 
Indians are able to procure their subsistence in the summer by hunting and fishing, and have 
tickets in store for living during the winter. They are well contented, and I - pleased to 
observe habits of industry growing upon them. In the barn we saw their operations of thresh- 
ing: four boys rode as many mules abreast around in a circle, being followed by two girls with 
flails, who appeared to be perfectly at home in their business. One-half of the barn is reserved 
for their crops, while the other is arranged for cattle. Their stock at present consists of — 
cows, eight pairs of oxen, and ninety pigs, which are driven to pasture upon the prairie by 
Indian boys daily. І noticed an Indian woman milking, and was surprised to see her use both 
