THE WALLA-WALLA. INDIANS. 421 



thirty. The same signs of intense grief followed the mention of 

 each name, presenting a scene which, accustomed as I was to Indian 

 life, I must confess aifected me deeply. I stood close by them, on 

 a log, with the interpreter of the Fort, who explained to me the 

 Indian's statement, which occupied nearly three hours. After this 

 the excitement increased, and apprehensions were entertained at the 

 Fort that it might lead to some hostile movement against the estab- 

 lishment. This fear, however, was groundless, as the Indians drew 

 the distinction between the Hudson's Bay Company and the Ameri- 

 cans. They immediately sent messengers in every direction, on 

 horseback, to spread the news of the disaster among all the neigh- 

 bouring tribes, and Mr. McBain and I both considered that Dr. 

 Whitman and his family would be in great danger. I therefore 

 determined to go and warn him of what had occurred. It was six 

 o'clock in the evening when I started, but I had a good horse, and 

 arrived at his house in three hours. I told him of the arrival of the 

 messenger and the excitement of the Indians, and advised him 

 strongly to come to the Fort, for a while at least, until the Indians 

 had cooled down ; but he said he had lived so long amongst them, 

 and had doue so much for them, that he did not apprehend they 

 would injure him. I remained with him only an hour, and hastened 

 back to the Fort, where I arrived at one o'clock, A. M. Not 

 wishing to expose myself unnecessarily to any danger arising from 

 the superstitious notions which the Indians might attach to my 

 having taken some of their likenesses, I remained at Fort "Walla- 

 Walla four or five days, during which the war party had returned, 

 and I had an opportunity of taking the likeness of the great Chief 

 Peo-peo-mox-mox, or the Yellow Serpent. Nothing of consequence 

 occurred whilst I remained at the Fort, and in a few days I resumed 

 my journey to the mountains. 



It was about two mouths afterwards that I first heard news from 

 Fort Walla- Walla, by some men of the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 who had overtaken me ; and my grief and horror can be well 

 imagined when they told me the sad fate of those with whom I had 

 80 lately been a cherished guest. It appeared that the war party 

 had brought the measles back with them, and that it spread with 

 fearful rapidity through the neighbouring tribes, but more particu- 

 larly amongst the Kye-uses. Dr. Whitman, as a medical man, did 

 all he could to stay its progress ; but, owing to their injudicious 

 mode of living, which he could not prevail on them to relinquish, 

 great numbers of them died. At this time the Doctor's family con- 

 sisted of himself, his wife, and a nephew, with two or three servants, 



