4Pj4 INDIAN TRIBES OF 



their wives in as warm a reception as the latter had given them on a 

 former occasion. 



The ladies of this mission, with some others, had travelled across 

 the Rocky Mountains from the United States. The missionaries had 

 brought cattle with them, and had been now settled here for two 

 years. I understood that their presence had been not only of much 

 advantage to the Indians, who had profited somewhat by their ex- 

 ample, but also in a greater degree to the officers of the Hudson Bay 

 Company, by affording them an opportunity of educating their chil- 

 dren, and instructing them in the art of the dairy. 



According to Mr. Eels, the Indians are glad to have whites settle 

 among them, that they may procure by that means the "fine things" 

 which they so much covet. The conclusion they come to is, the 

 more the whites come the more they must receive. They are par- 

 ticularly partial to the Bostons, and frequently refer back to the time 

 when there was rivalry in the trade. 



The missionaries represent the Indians as being very easily ac- 

 tuated by impulses, and impatient of restraint; but that, though quick- 

 tempered, they are not sullen : a revengeful spirit is always discou- 

 raged, — indeed it is esteemed a merit to be patient under an injury. 

 Public opinion has a very powerful influence upon them, and few 

 savages are more susceptible of ridicule, to the utterance of which 

 their language is peculiarly adapted. Although there is but little 

 government in families, still they are well behaved ; and it is prover- 

 bial that they seldom quarrel among themselves. Generosity and 

 wealth are the two qualifications that give most consequence ; after 

 these, comes noble blood. 



Their adoption of names is arbitrary, and a fortuitous circum- 

 stance is frequently seized upon to gratify the passion for a change. 

 The first name they bear is generally taken from some circumstance 

 at the child's birth, and in after life others are added to the first, and 

 there are few individuals but are well supplied with them. 



The missionaries have succeeded in inducing many of the Spokane 

 tribe of Indians to reside near them, which affords an opportunity of 

 attending to their temporal wants, as well as of giving them instruc- 

 tion. 



On their way, they met a party of Pend'Oreilles Indians, digging 

 the cammass-root. Some of these were purchased that had been 

 cooked with the Oregon sunflower, which imparted to them the taste 

 of molasses. 



