Campfire Stories of Indian Character 505 



people religious would convey but a faint idea of the deep hue of 

 piety and devotion which pervades the whole of their conduct. 

 Their honesty is immaculate; and their purity of purpose and 

 observance of the rites of their religion are most uniform and 

 remarkable. They are certainly more like a nation of saints 

 than a horde of savages. 



So they were described in Captain Bonneville's narrative 

 after his visit in 1834. 



They were first officially noticed in the report of the Indian 

 Commissioner for 1843, where they are described as "noble, 

 industrious, sensible," and well disposed toward the whites, 

 while " though brave as Caesar," the whites have nothing to dread 

 at their hands in case of their dealing out to them what they 

 conceive to be right and equitable. — (14 Ann. Rep. Bur. Ethn., 

 p. 712.) 



About the middle of the last century their chief was 

 Himnaton-Kalatkit (Thunder-rolling), known more gen- 

 erally as Chief Joseph. 



He was a splendid example of the best type of Redman, 

 of superb physique, clinging to the ancient way, beloved 

 by his people, feared by his enemies and, as it proved, a 

 leader of tremendous power and resource. 



In 1877, after they had sustained innumerable encroach- 

 ments and flagrant violations of their treaty, a quarrel 

 broke out between them and the whites and an Indian 

 was killed. 



Chief Joseph restrained his men and appealed for justice. 

 For reply a band of whites raided the Indian reservation, 

 ran off their cattle and killed the Indian in charge. So the 

 war broke out. The first three fights were defeats for the 

 whites, but more troops were soon rushed up. Joseph had 

 barely one hundred warriors and three hundred and fifty 

 helpless women and children. General Howard was behind 

 him. General Miles in front, Colonel Sturges and the Crows 



