THE INTERIOR OF OREGON. 493 



the latter exhibited a breadth of seven miles. The nearest range of 

 mo-untains trends east and west. Six miles further on, they came to 

 the Little Falls, and above them about six miles to the lake of 

 Coeur d'Alene. The breadth of this lake is two miles, by five miles 

 long, in an east-southeast and west-northwest direction. There is a 

 smaller lake to the northward, half a mile in length. The mountains 

 were of granite. A large number of inhabitants were seen, who used 

 canoes of bark. Lieutenant Johnson then returned on his path for a 

 few miles, and afterwards pursued nearly the same direction that 

 the party had done before him. It is therefore unnecessary to repeat 

 what has been before said of this route. He made the latitude of 

 Lapwai 46° 27' 00" N. ; and measured the width of the river, which 

 was found to be four hundred and sixty feet. 



There are a number of singular customs prevailing among the Nez 

 Perces, perhaps a greater number than in any other nation of savages. 

 That of overcoming the " Wawish" or spirit of fatigue, if it may be so 

 translated, is the most remarkable ; for this is a ceremony to enable 

 them to endure fatigue, that has long been practised among them, 

 and is still kept up. The operation continues for three, five, and 

 seven days, and is often repeated. It is begun on the first day by 

 taking three or four willow sticks, eighteen inches long, and thrusting 

 them down the throat, in order to cleanse the stomach by bringing 

 up bile, blood, and coagulated matter ; a hole is then prepared, of a 

 sufficient depth for a man to sit iipright, with his head above the 

 ground. This is usually dug near a running brook. 



On the second day they fast, and collect other willow sticks, of one- 

 eighth of an inch in diameter, the distance of the navel from the 

 mouth being their length. These are slightly rounded and made 

 smooth, and are passed down to the bottom of the stomach, which 

 causes a severe irritation and vomiting, and is continued until it pro- 

 duces a burning sensation : this is repeated from time to time until 

 noon, and not unfrequently as often as eighteen or twenty times. 

 The number of sticks is diminished as the throat becomes sore. 

 When noon arrives, they plunge into cold water, and remain there till 

 evening, when they take half a pint of porridge. 



The third day, a similar course is gone through. 



On the fourth day, after heating a number of stones, they get into 

 the pit, the water in which is heated by throwing in the hot stones, 

 until it is no longer to be endured ; they then plunge into cold water, 

 and remain there slapping themselves until they are quite benumbed; 



VOL. IV. 124 



