helpless community, however undeserving his favor it
might be.
On the twenty-ninth Dr. White, Hines, and Le Breton made a final start from Vancouver. At The Dalles, where they arrived May fourth, they were met by delegates from the tribes in that vicinity, who had accepted the laws in the previous December. They complained that the high chief elected, and his aids, had them punished for trifling offenses, for doing what they had always been in the habit of doing, and there had been broils among themselves in consequence.
" Those appointed by Dr. White," says Hines, " were de sirous that his regulations should continue, because they placed the people under their absolute control, and gave them the power to regulate all their intercourse with the whites, and with the other Indian tribes. But the other influential men who were not in office desired to know of Dr. White of what benefit this whipping system was going to be to them. They said they were willing it should con tinue provided they were to receive shirts, and pants, and blankets as a reward for being whipped. They had been whipped a good many times and got nothing for it, and it had done them no good. If this state of things was to continue, it was all cultus. (good for nothing), and they would throw it away. The doctor wished them to under stand that they need not expect pay for being flogged when they deserved it. They laughed at the idea and separated."
From this it would appear that no more serious trouble existed among these Indians than from their worthless character might be expected at any time. But nothing is more difficult than to learn the truth of an Indian rumor. The difference between the stories told to White present, and carried to White absent, was the difference be tween a tragedy and a comedy.
The agent did not tarry long at The Dalles, but pro ceeded next day on his journey, accom
