Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/85

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tries. With this Yellow Serpent professed to be satisfied, saying that it was in accordance with such instructions as he bad received from Others, adding that he was glad it was so. because many of his people had been angry with him when he whipped them for crime, and had told him Clod would send him to hell for it, and he was glad to know it was pleasing to God."

Tiloukaikt, on whose land Whitman lived, next spoke, saying, impatiently, "What do you read 4 the laws for be fore we take them? We do not take the laws because Tauitowe says so. He is a Catholic, and as a people we do not follow his worship."

To this Dr. White replied that his religious views had nothing to do with the laws; that white people had differ ent modes of worship while obeying the same laws an entirely new idea to the Indians, who had only been given religion as law.

Here a chief called The Prince arose. He had once been a man of influence among the Cayuses, but having been concerned in an effort to make Mr. Pambrun, in charge of Fort Walla Walla, pay higher prices for furs and horses, by seizing that gentleman, throwing him down, and stamping on his breast, had been deposed by the Hud son s Bay Company, and his power had dwindled to noth ing. "I understand," said The Prince, "You gave us liberty to examine every law all the words and lines and as questions are asked about it, we should get a better understanding of it. The people of this country have but one mind about it. I have something to say, but perhaps the people wall dispute me. As a body we have not had an opportunity to consult; therefore you come to us as in the wind, and speak to us as to the air, as we have no point, and we cannot speak because we have no point

4 The word "read" here should undoubtedly be "receive." The sentence is without sense otherwise. Tiloukaikt was a haughty Cayuse, and would not brook the Walla Wallas taking precedence. He was also a thorough Presbyterian, on whom Dr. Whitman had spent much time and labor, and as his speech betrayed, resented any interference by Tauitowe, who was a Catholic. In this he copied his teachers