The Umatillas
against them in retaliation. Then the white people and the Indians might have a great war. There are great numbers of white people, and we fear they would exterminate the Indian. This we wish to prevent. Our hearts are with the Indians, and, as law-makers, we wish to protect them. We want them to understand fully the danger that surrounds them. The President will do all he can to protect them, but there are some bad white men as well as bad Indians. We want you to think of it, and decide whether it would be better to get away from the roads and the railroads that may some time be built through the country. . . ."
The Indians took little part in the speech-making of the first two days. The superintendent presented the question of removal with great elaboration, and Mr. Brunot gave the Indians several talks of an advisory nature. Everything said was carefully interpreted and recorded. One Indian—Uma-pine, a Cayuse chief—interjected remarks at frequent intervals; he seemed suspicious of the superintendent:
"My heart is this way; you thought over it; you wished for this reservation; you wished for Grand Ronde, for Walla Walla Valley and Umatilla; you wished for it. What kind of a heart was it that wished for all these places? Speak plain and all will hear it."
But old Uma-pine followed one of Mr. Brunot's talks with this rather good-humored acknowledgment:
