66 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 28, 1905. 
Trails of the Pathfinders —XXVIL 
Samuel Parker, 
In the year 1838 there was published in Ithaca, N. Y., 
by the author, the "Journal of an Exploring Tour Be- 
yond the Rocky Mountains, Under the Direction of the 
A. B. C. F. M., Performed in the Years 1835, '36 and '37; 
Containing a Description of the Geography, Geology, 
Climate and Productions ; and the Number, Manners and 
Customs of the Natives. With a Map of Oregon Terri- 
tory." By Rev. Samuel Parker, A.M. 
As may be imagined from this title, Mr. Parker 
was a missionary whose business in setting out into the 
wild West was tO' spread the Gospel. The American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent him 
out to ascertain by personal observation the conditio]) 
and character of the Indian nations and tribes, and the 
opportunities for introducing the Gospel and civilization 
among them. He writes in a more or less ponderous 
style, and his mind is dominated, as is natural, by the mis- 
sionary idea, often to such an extent that his volume at 
times even has something of the flavor of some of the 
volumes of the Jesuit Relations. 
At_ St. Louis Mr. Parker met Dr. Marcus Whitman. 
. appointed by the American Board to be his associate in 
his western explorations, and here the two missionaries 
waited for a time until the caravan which they were to 
accompany should be ready to start. 
Dr.^ Whitman's name is so closely connected with the 
securing of Oregon Territory by the United States that 
it is hardly necessary to speak of him at any length. 
Before leaving Liberty, Mo., the steamer on which they 
were traveling broke down, and it was necessary to pro- 
ceed overland, and they reached Fort Leavenworth early 
in May. During the journey Parker met with a number 
of men who, at various times, had had close intercourse 
with the Wichitas or Pawnees, Picts; Comanches, Nava- 
joes and Apaches; and from all these individuals he 
heard stories which made him think well of these wild 
and distant tribes, and of their adaptability to Chris- 
tianity and to civilized pursuits. He was observant, too, 
of the local Indians, lowas, Sioux and Foxes, and was 
favorably impressed by all. 
After reaching Council Bluffs there was a long wait 
before the caravan set out on its western journey. Much 
is said of the Indians inhabiting this region, Yanktons, 
Omahas, Poncas, and the more distant Mandans; and 
some hints are given as to the mode of life of these tribes. 
The party traveled up the Platte, meeting the usual diffi- 
culties and discouragements attendant on the stormy 
weather in summer. Much of the time they were drenched 
to the skin. Occasionally a storm of hail would come, 
which scattered their animals, and much time was de- 
voted to gathering them again. Traveling westward, the 
Messrs. Campbell and Sublette, with a few men, were 
met returning from the Black Hills. The rich bottom 
land of the Platte, over which they were traveling, greatly 
impressed the missionary, who prophesied concerning it 
as follows : "No country could be more inviting to the 
farmer, with only one exception— the want of woodland. 
The latitude is sufficiently high to be healthy; and as the 
climate grows warmer as we travel west, until we ap- 
proach the snow-topped mountains, there is a degree of 
mildness not experienced east of the Alleghany Moun- 
tains. The time will come, and probably is not far dis- 
tant, when this country will be covered with a dense 
population. The earth was created for the habitation of 
man, and for a theatre on which God will manifest his 
perfections in his moral government among his moral 
creatures, and therefore the earth, according to divine pre- 
diction, shall be given to the people of God. Although 
infidels may sneer, and scoffers mock, yet God will ac- 
complish His designs and fulfill every promise contained 
in His Word. Then this amazing extent of most fertile 
land will not continue to be the wandering ground of a 
few thousand Indians, with only a very few acres under 
cultivation; nor will millions of tons of grass grow up 
to rot upon the ground, or to be burned up with the fire 
enkindled to sweep over the prairie, to disincumber it of 
its spontaneous burden. The herds of buffalo which once 
fattened upon these meadows are gone; and the deer 
which once cropped the grass have disappeared ; and the 
antelopes have fled away ; and shall solitude reign here till 
the end of time? No: here shall be heard the din of 
business, and the church-going bell shall sound far and 
wide." 
Before long the travelers reached the Loups Fork, 
which they crossed; and here they met a number of 
Pawnee Indians, who treated them with great courtesy 
and kindness, and invited them to feast with them. 
Reference is made here to Messrs. Dunbar and Allis, and 
of the missionary work that they were doing among the 
Pawnees. 
From the Pawnee country the party kept on up the 
Platte, through the open country. Here, it seems, those 
Indians most feared were the Arickaras, not the Sioux 
and Cheyennes, as was the case thirty years later. At this 
time that tribe was said to have gone far up the south 
fork of the Platte to avoid the United States dragoons, 
under command of Col. Dodge, who was pursuing them 
As Parker's party went up the north fork of the Plate, 
he speaks of "their using particular caution to be pre- 
pared for an attack of the Arickaras, should any of their 
war parties be about us. Every fnan was required to see 
that his rifle was in good order, ^ncl have a good sup- 
ply of powder and balls. We all slept with our clothes 
on, so that, if called with the sentinels' fire, we might in 
less than a moment be ready for action." 
Here is a word about the animals that they saw next 
day as they journeyed on : 
"Saw, on the i6th, the buffalo in great numbers, and 
in nearer view than previously. They are less shy than 
those we first found. They are more majestic than the 
elk, but less beautiful. The antelopes, some of which 
we have seen for several days past, are becoming very 
numerous. They are rightly named, for their speed ex- 
ceeds any animal I have ever seen. Our hounds can do 
nothing in giving them the chase; so soon are they left 
far in the rear, that they do not follow them more than 
ten or_ twenty I'ods before they return, looking ashamed 
of their defeat. Our hunters occasionally take some of 
them by coming upon them by stealth. When they are 
surprised, they start forward a very small space, and then 
turn, and with high-lifted heads stare for a few seconds 
at the object which has alarmed them, and then, with a 
half whistling snuff, bound off, seeming tO' be as much 
upon wings as upon feet. They resemble the goat, but are 
far more beautiful." 
Court House Rock, Chimney Rock, and Scott's Bluffs 
were duly passed. Some very friendly Ogallallahs were 
met with just before they reached the Laramie River. 
Ilieir camp that night was close to the fort. Here took 
place one of the days of revelry and carousing which 
are_ so frequently noted in these old books as occurring 
periodically. There were dances by the Indians, and other 
celebrations. Keeping on up the Platte, they passed In- 
dependence Rock on the 7th, and reached the Sweet- 
water. The weather was now growing colder, and ice 
often made during the night. 
On reaching Green River they came to the rendezvous 
of the Am.erican Fur Company. Who was in command 
Parker does not tell us ; but that various well-known per- 
sons were present is certain. For example, "While wc 
continued in this place. Dr. Whitman was called to per- 
form some v£ry important surgical operations; he ex- 
tracted an iron arrow three inches long from the back of 
Captain Bridger, which he had received in a skirmish 
three years before with the Blackfeet Indians. It was a 
difficult operation, in consequence of the arrow being 
hooked at the point by striking a large bone, and a carti- 
laginous substance had grov/n around it. The Doctor 
pursued the operation with great self-possession and per- 
severance, and Captain Bridger manifested equal firm- 
ness. The Indians looked on while the operation was 
proceeding with countenances indicating wonder, and 
when they saw the arrow, expressed their astonishment 
in a manner peculiar to themselves. The skill of Doctor 
Whitman undoubtedly made upon them a favorable im- 
pression. He also took another arrow from under the 
shoulder of one of the hunters which had been there two 
years and a half." 
Here Parker consulted the Flatheads and Nez Perces, 
asking them if they would be willing to receive a minis- 
ter of the Gospel. They needed no persuasion, but were 
agreed to have him come to them, and so cordial was 
their response, that it seemed best that Dr. Whitman 
should return with the caravan, enlist some more workers, 
and return the next year with another caravan, to estab- ^ 
iish a mission among these people. Dr. Whitman at first 
was unwilling to leave his fellow missionary to go on 
alone, but finally did so. 
During another day of drunkenness a fight took place 
at the rendezvous. "A hunter, who goes technically by 
the name of the great bully of the mountains, mounted his 
horse with a loaded rifle, and challenged any Frenchman, 
American, Spaniard or Dutchman to fight him in single 
combat. Kit Carson, an American, told him if he wished 
to die, he would accept the challenge. Shunar defied him. 
C. mounted his horse, and with a loaded pistol rushed 
into close contact, and both almost at the same instant 
fired. C.'s ball entered S.'s hand, came out at the wrist, 
and passed through the arm above the elbow. S.'s ball 
passed over the head of C, and while he went for another 
pistol, Shunar begged that his life might be spared." 
Parker had arranged to travel on with the Flatheads. 
The chief of these gave him a young man as an assistant, 
and Parker secured a voyageur who understood English 
and Nez Perce. Parker and his Indian friends started, 
August 21, in company with Bridger, whose way led in 
the same direction as theirs. Bridger had about fifty 
men. They followed up the stream to Jackson's Hole, 
and encamped on a small stream which the author says is 
one of the upper branches of the Columbia River. He 
says something about the difficulties of travel and the 
narrow passages which it was necessary to traverse, and 
which he calls "kenyans." This term is found more or 
less frequently in these old books by persons who seem 
to have written it down only from hearing the word 
spoken. Near Jackson's Hole he climbed one of the 
high mountains, and was greatly impressed by what he 
saw. One day while traveling through the mountains "a 
number of buffalo, which were pursued by our Indians, 
came rushing down the side of the mountain through the 
midst of our company. One ran over a horse, on the 
back of which was a child, and threw the child far down 
the descent, but it providentially was not materially in- 
jured. Another ran over a packed horse and wounded it 
deeply in the shoulders." 
Mr Parker evidently enjoyed the companionship of the 
Indians, whom he seems to have regarded with most 
pleasant feelings. He says: "The Indians are very kind 
to pacf; other, ^nd if on^ meets w?^|i any disaster, thf 
others will wait and assist him. Their horses often turn 
their packs, and run, plunge and kick, until they free 
themselves from their burdens. Yesterday a horse turned 
his saddle under him upon which a child was fastened, 
and started to run, but those near hovered at once around 
with their horses so as to inclose the one to which the 
child was attached, and it was extricated without hurt. 
When I saw the condition of the child, I had no expecta- 
tion that it could be saved alive." 
A little later, still speaking of the children, he says of 
the Indians : "They are so well supplied with horses that 
every man, woman and child are mounted on horseback, 
and all they have is packed upon horses. Small children, 
not more than three years old, are mounted alone, and 
generally upon colts. They are lashed upon the saddle to 
keep them from falling, and especially when they go 
asleep, which they often do when they become fatigued. 
Then they recline upon the horse's shoulders; and when 
they awake, they lay hold of their whip, which is fastened 
to the wrist of their right hand, and apply it smartly to 
their horses ; and it is astonishing to see how these little 
creatures will guide and run them. Children which are 
still younger are put into an encasement made with a 
board at the back, and a wicker-work around the other 
parts, covered with cloth inside and without, or more 
generally with dressed skins; and they are carried upon 
the motlier's back, or suspended from a high nob upon the 
fore pari of their saddles." 
Still moving westward, early in September they met a 
band of Nez Perces. They came to Parker's camp about 
the middle of the day, "the principal chief marching in 
front with his aid, carrying an American flag by his side. 
They all sung a march, while a few beat a sort of drum. 
As they drew near, they displayed columns, and made 
quite an imposing appearance. The women and children 
followed in the rear." 
The next day's diary is devoted almost entirely tO' an 
account of missionary work, in which -the author gives 
an extract of the various sermons that he preached to the 
Indians, who received his teachings with great patience 
and interest. By this time the party was out of provi- 
sions, and all v/cre getting hungry, but no game was seen. 
However, on September g, buffalo were seen, and prepara- 
tions were made to chase them. All the best hunters 
chose their swiftest horses, and seeing that their arms 
were in good order, made leady for the run ; while 
Parker did what he could by lifting up "my heart in 
prayer to God, that He would give them judgment, skill 
and success. They advanced toward the herd of buffalo 
with great caution, lest they should frighten them before 
they should make a near approach ; and also to reserve 
the power of their horses for the chase when it should 
be necessary to bring it into full requisition. When the 
buffalo took the alarm and fled, the rush was made, each 
Indian selecting for himself a cow with which he hap- 
pened to eonie into the nearest contact. All were in 
swift motion scouring the valley; a cloud of dust began 
to arise, firing of guns and shooting of arrows followed 
in close succession ; soon here and there buffalo were seen 
prostrated, and the women, who followed close in the 
rear, began the work of securing the valuable acquisition, 
and the men were away again in pursuit of the fleeing 
herd. Those in the chase when as near as two rods shoot 
and wheel, expecting the wounded animal to turn upon 
them. The horses appeared to understand the way to 
avoid danger. As soon as the wounded animal flies again, 
the chase is renewed, and such is the alternate wheeling 
and chasing until the buffalo sinks beneath its wotmds. 
They obtained between fifty and sixty, which was a signal 
mercy." 
Not long after the Nez Perces and Flatheads left them, 
wishing to remain in the buffalo range tO' secure their 
winter's meat. Before going away, however, they pre- 
sented Parker with twenty tongues and a large quantity 
of dried meat. About a hundred and fifty of the Indians 
kept on down Salmon River with the missionaries ; and 
not long afterward they had a tremendous Indian scare, 
supposing that they were about to be attacked by the 
Blackfeet. A little investigation, however, showed that 
what had been seen were buffalo, and not Blackfeet, and 
food again became plenty in the camp. Parker appears to 
have been a man of considerable attainments. He re- 
marks upon the geology of the region he passes through; 
enumerates the birds and mammals which he sees, and 
has much to say about the habits and characteristics of 
the Indians ; and interspersed through all are frequent 
references to the Deity, His wishes and purposes as in- 
terpreted by the missionary, together with earnest aspira- 
tions for the spread of the Gospel among the red pepole. 
Walla Walla was reached early in October, and there, 
at the post of the Hudson's Bay Company, Parker was re- 
ceived by Mr. Pambrun with great hospitality. For this 
the guest was very grateful, and he says many good 
words concerning the kindly people and the company 
which they represented; words which are not only good, 
but true. 
_ After a day or two of rest at Walla Walla, the mis- 
sionary started down the river in a canoe with three 
Walla Walla Indians, and before long stopped at a camp 
of Cayuse Indians, with whom, however, he was unable 
to communicate. He noticed that all along the river as 
he passed the Indians, though of different tribes, seemed 
to be on good terms with one another, a condition which 
was inevitable from the fact that all these Indians drew 
their support from the river, to which they resorted for 
salmon, and coming there for provisions, coyld not have 
afforded to fight, even had they wished to. 
