THE WALLA-WALLA INDIANS. 419 



of water. About two o'clock P. M. on the evening of the eighteenth, 

 in our circuitous route back to the Fort, we arrived at Dr. Whit- 

 man's Presbyterian Mission, situated about twenty-five miles up 

 the Walla- "Walla liiver, where I was received very kindly by the 

 Missionary and his wife. Dr. Whitman's duties included those of 

 Superintendent of the American Presbyterian Missions on the West 

 side of the Pocky Mountains. He had built himself a house of 

 unburn t clay, for want of timber, which, as stated above, is here 

 extremely scarce. He had resided at this locality, on the banks of 

 the Walla-Walla Kiver, upwards of eight years, doing all in his 

 power to benefit the Indians in his mission. He had brought forty 

 or fifty acres of land, in the vicinity of the river, under cultivation, 

 and had a great many head of domestic cattle, affording greater 

 comfoft to his family than one would expect in such an isolated 

 spot. I remained with him four days, during which he kindly 

 accompanied me amongst the Indians. These Indians, the Kye-use, 

 resemble the Walla- Wallas very much. They are always allies in 

 war, and their language and customs are 'almost identical, except 

 that the Kye-use Indians are far more vicious and ungovernable. 

 Dr. Whitman took me to the lodge of an Indian called To-ma-kus, 

 that I might take his likeness. We found him in his lodge sitting 

 perfectly naked. His appearance was the most savage I ever be- 

 held, and his looks by no means belied his character. It was only a 

 short time before my arrival at the mission that he killed an Indian 

 out of mere wantonness. His victim was taking care of some horses 

 for another Indian, when he rode up to him and enquired why he 

 was hiding them. The Indian denied that he was doing so, when 

 Tomakus, without further remark, sent an arrow through his heart. 

 He was so cruel and merciless in his revenge, and so greatly dreaded, 

 that no one dared resent the murder. At another time he attempted 

 the life of one of the Doctor's servants for the most trifling cause, 

 and was only prevented by the man's escaping, while the Doctor, 

 who was a powerful man, forcibly held him. He was not aware of 

 what I wa3 doing, until I had finished the sketch. He then asked to 

 look at it, and enquired what I intended doing with it, and whether 

 I was not going to give it to the Americans, against whom he bore 

 a strong antipathy, superstitiously fancying that their possessing it 

 would put him in their power. I, in vain, told him I should not 

 give it to them ; but, not being satisfied with this assurance, he 

 attempted to throw it in the (ire, when I seized him by the arm and 

 snatched it from him. He glanced at me like a Send, and appea I 

 greatly enraged, but before he had time to recover from his surprise, 



