The "Dreamers" of the Columbia River Valley. 



services which were not always identical in form ; but I saw its great- 

 est development at the fountain head, Priesl Rapids, on the main 

 Columbia river, the home of Smoholla, the "Prophet" and High 

 Priest of the Dreamer theology. I found that he was the brake and 

 the wheel of progress of his people, as to retain his influence he ad- 

 vised them to resist any of the advances of civilization, as improper 

 for a true Indian, and the violation of the faith of their ancestors. 



General Miles, having the peace and permanent benefit of Indians 

 and whites at heart, desired me to hear all objections to the civilizing 

 influences which were extended to Smoholla's people, by laws of the 

 United States, and to win over the leading men to his views, if prac- 

 ticable. So I listened for several days to all that was said to me 

 through any interpreter in whom the Indians had confidence. 



In reply, I presented some of General Miles' views, which have since 

 become the recognized policy of President Cleveland, in reference to 

 allotment of land in severalty to Indians. 



The Dreamer notion or superstition, seemed to form the principal 

 bar, to any progress in the matter, and I was glad to hear from its 

 prophet or leading priests as full an exposition of its origin, founda- 

 tion and characteristics as possible. This I had at Smoholla's village, 

 and salmon fishing at the foot, or lower falls, of Priests Rapids. 



I rode fifty miles in a spring wagon, known as a Dougherty, as far 

 as the country was practicable for wheeled vehicles, and was then met 

 by a party of Indians, with a band of saddle and pack ponies, upon 

 which my party and camp necessities were transported over a moun- 

 tain abont three thousand feet high, my escort dexterously guiding me 

 in such course that the crest of the range was at tained at a point where 

 in an instant the whole panorama of the "great bend of the Columbia 

 river" was presented to the eye. I was impressed by the grandeur 

 of the scene, but was not, as was, I think, intended, ready to be equally 

 impressed by the greatness of Smoholla's power as a prophet and high 



Pr The scene embraced an area of several ^thousand square miles, to the 



every direction. Through the basin the silver stream of the great 

 river flowed, being broken and glittering at several points, where ledges 

 of rocks tore the current into angry foaming rapids. 



Near the lower one, with the help of afield glass, I discerned a num- 

 ber of houses stretched along the margin of the river, and from 

 several poles flags fluttered in the wind. They were distant about 



