246 The " Dreamers " of the Columbia River Valley. 



and on it knelt, in lines of seven, the men and boys. Each seven had 

 similar colored shirts as a rule, and the largest were in front, the mass 

 decending to the distant rear. 



Children and ancient hags, tilled in any spare space. In front on 

 a mattress knelt Smohalla his left hand covering his heart, and at his 

 right was the boy bell-ringer, in similar posture. Smohalla wore a 

 white garment, which he was pleased to call a priest's gown, but it was 



' I with my two assistants, were seated on a mattress about ten feet 

 in front of the prophet ; which fortunately placed us near the door, 

 and incidentally near fresh air. 



There were two other witnesses, two Indians from distant villages, 

 who sat at one side, with Smohalla's son looking on. 



In person, Smohalla is peculiar. Short, thick-set, bald-headed and 

 almost hunch-backed, he is not prepossessing at first sight; but he has 

 an almost Websterian head, with a deep brow, over bright intelligent 



He is a finished orator: his manner mostly of the bland, insinuating, 

 persuasive style, but when aroused, he is full of fire, and seems to 

 handle invectives, effectively. The whole of his audience to a man 

 (or woman) seemed spell-bound under his magic manner, and it never 

 lost interest to me, though in a language comprehended by few white 

 men and translated to me at second or third hand. 



His immediate followers are his abject slaves ; in villages .mite dis- 

 tant the people believe in his inspiration; and this inventor of a new faith 

 (or rather remodeller of several old ones) has upturned the religious con- 

 victions of tribes of Indians quite remote, and even of such intelligence 

 as the Nez Perces. Much of this influence is due to knowledge gained 

 from white men, but mainly to his native intelligence and qualities as 

 an orator and natural leader of men. 



When a boy, he lived at the Cu-ur d'Aleue Indian mission, where 

 he was familiar with the Catholic service, and learned a little French, 



popularityf unusual for an Indian of his "social class," when chief 

 Moses attacked and nearly killed him. 



Indeed he was left for dead, but managed to crawl away and com- 

 menced a long journey which carried him among many tribes, to many 

 cities, even into Mexico, whence he worked his way north through 

 Utah and Idaho. At the end of several years, owing *tp the removal 

 of Moses to a distance, he returned to his own people, announcing 



