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the Indians; who held the sacred spot in awe。  When the work of

taking down the canoes and carrying them to the water began;

expectation was on tiptoe; but; strange as it may seem; not a rat was

to be seen。  This unexpected development was mystifying。  They had

all disappeared; there was not one in any of the canoes; as

investigation proved; for disappointment instigated a most thorough

search。  The Indians said the rats understood Chinook; and that as

they had no wish to accompany the dead across the ocean to the happy

hunting…grounds; they took to the woods for safety。  However that may

be; I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the burial…ground;

and our long talk of the day before; with the unusual stir and

bustle; had so alarmed the rats that; impelled; by their suspicious

instincts; they fled a danger; the nature of which they could not

anticipate; but which they felt to be none the less real and

impending。









CHAPTER VII。



LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGESTRANGE INDIAN CUSTOMSTHEIR DOCTORS…

…SAM PATCHTHE MURDER OF A WOMANIN A TIGHT PLACESURPRISING THE

INDIANSCONFLICTING REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUNSECESSION

QUESTION IN CALIFORNIAAPPOINTED A CAPTAINTRANSFERRED TO THE EAST。



The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without

further excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food; and

as the buildings; at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my

services as quartermaster were no longer needed; I was ordered to

join my own company at Fort Yamhill; where Captain Russell was still

in command。  I returned to that place in May; 1857; and at a period a

little later; in consequence of the close of hostilities in southern

Oregon; the Klamaths and Modocs were sent back to their own country;

to that section in which occurred; in 1873; the disastrous war with

the latter tribe。  This reduced considerably the number of Indians at

the Grande Ronde; but as those remaining were still somewhat unruly;

from the fact that many questions requiring adjustment were

constantly arising between the different bands; the agent and the

officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied。  Captain Russell

assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control; and

as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook (the 〃court

language〃 among the coast tribes) almost as well as the Indians

themselves; I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on

many critical occasions。



For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had

was the Rogue River band。  For three or four years they had fought

our troops obstinately; and surrendered at the bitter end in the

belief that they were merely overpowered; not conquered。  They openly

boasted to the other Indians that they could whip the soldiers; and

that they did not wish to follow the white man's ways; continuing

consistently their wild habits; unmindful of all admonitions。

Indeed; they often destroyed their household utensils; tepees and

clothing; and killed their horses on the graves of the dead; in the

fulfillment of a superstitious custom; which demanded that they

should undergo; while mourning for their kindred; the deepest

privation in a property sense。  Everything the loss of which would

make them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or

distinguished warriors; and as melancholy because of removal from

their old homes caused frequent deaths; there was no lack of occasion

for the sacrifices。  The widows and orphans of the dead warriors were

of course the chief mourners; and exhibited their grief in many

peculiar ways。  I remember one in particular which was universally

practiced by the near kinsfolk。  They would crop their hair very

close; and then cover the head with a sort of hood or plaster of

black pitch; the composition being clay; pulverized charcoal; and the

resinous gum which exudes from the pine…tree。  The hood; nearly an

inch in thickness; was worn during a period of mourning that lasted

through the time it would take nature; by the growth of the hair;

actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it

had become solidified and hard as stone。  It must be admitted that

they underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives。

It took all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these

absurdly superstitious practices; and it looked as if no permanent

improvement could be effected; for as soon as we got them to discard

one; another would be invented。  When not allowed to burn down their

tepees or houses; those poor souls who were in a dying condition

would be carried out to the neighboring hillsides just before

dissolution; and there abandoned to their sufferings; with little or

no attention; unless the placing under their heads of a small stick

of woodwith possibly some laudable object; but doubtless great

discomfort to their victimmight be considered such。



To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most

difficult。  The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to

bring about tragic results。  They believed firmly in a class of

doctors among their people who professed that they could procure the

illness of an individual at will; and that by certain incantations

they could kill or cure the sick person。  Their faith in this

superstition was so steadfast that there was no doubting its

sincerity; many indulging at times in the most trying privations;

that their relatives might be saved from death at the hands of the

doctors。  I often talked with them on the subject; and tried to

reason them out of the superstitious belief; defying the doctors to

kill me; or even make me ill; but my talks were unavailing; and they

always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man; of a

race wholly different from the red man; and that that was the reason

the medicine of the doctors would not affect me。  These villainous

doctors might be either men or women; and any one of them finding an

Indian ill; at once averred that his influence was the cause;

offering at the same time to cure the invalid for a fee; which

generally amounted to about all the ponies his family possessed。  If

the proposition was accepted and the fee paid over; the family; in

case the man died; was to have indemnity through the death of the

doctor; who freely promised that they might take his life in such

event; relying on his chances of getting protection from the furious

relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so assuaged

their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a

restoration of a part of the property; when the rascally leeches

could again resume their practice。  Of course the services of a

doctor were always accepted when an Indian fell ill; otherwise the

invalid's death would surely ensue; brought about by the evil

influence that was unpropitiated。  Latterly it had become quite the

thing; when a patient died; for the doctor to flee to our campit

was so convenient and so much safer than elsewhereand my cellar was

a favorite place of refuge from the infuriated friends of the

deceased。



Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam

Patch; who several times sought asylum in any cellar; and being a

most profound diplomat; managed on each occasion and with little

delay to negotiate a peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to

resume the practice of his nefarious profession。  I often hoped he

would be caught before reaching the post; but he seemed to know

intuitively when the time had come to take leg…bail; for his advent

at the garrison generally preceded by but a few hours the death of

some poor dupe。



Finally these peculiar customs brought about the punishment of a

noted doctress of the Rogue River tribe; a woman who was constantly

working in this professional way; and who had found a victim of such

prominence among the Rogue Rivers that his unlooked for death b

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