The discovery of the oyster-beds, and also of the numerous forests of timber accessible to navigation, attracted the attention of the white men; and the old, old story was again rehea.r.s.ed,--"_The white men wanted them._"
That it was wanted by the white men was _sufficient_, and no ambitious candidate for Legislature or Congressional honors _dare_ oppose the violation of a solemn compact between the United States Government and the Indians, who had accepted this country in compensation for their homes in Umpyua and Rogue river valley. It was _cut off_, and given to commerce and agriculture in 1866.
That an equivalent was ever made to the Indian does not appear from any records to which I have had access. It is, however, a.s.serted, that a small sum was invested in stock cattle, for the benefit of Siletz Indians. There are two approaches to Siletz from the valley of Willamette; the princ.i.p.al, via Ya-quina river and bay; the other, over the mountain by trail. My first visit was by the former. In September, 1869, in company with Hon.
Geo. H. Williams, then U. S. Senator, now Attorney General of the United States, Judge Odeneal, since my successor in office, and other citizens, we reached the head of navigation late on the evening of the 12th. We remained over night at "Elk Horn Hotel." The following morning, in the absence of steamer, we took pa.s.sage in small row-boats, propelled by Indians.
The adventures of the day were few, only one of which I shall refer to now. Our U. S. Senator, who had done much for reconstruction in the Senate, challenged one of our Indians for a trial of muscle at the oars.
The challenge was accepted, and senatorial broadcloth was laid aside, and brain and muscle put to the test. After a short race the prow of our boat ran into the bank on the side where brains was at work. For once at least, muscle proved more than a match for brains, and, besides, an Indian had won a victory over a great tyee. Now although our senator had proven himself a match for other great senators in dignified debate, he was compelled to listen to the cheers of our party in honor of a red man"s triumph over him. I doubt if those who of late defeated him, when a candidate for the highest seat in our halls of justice, felt half the gratification that "To-toot-na-Jack" did that morning when the tyee dropped the oar, exhausted and disgusted with his failure to hold even hand with a red brother, who was _not a senator_.
After a row of twenty miles, we landed within a half hour"s ride of Siletz. The agent, Mr. Simpson, met our party with saddle-horses.
While en route a horse-race was proposed; the dignified gentleman turning jockey for the nonce. In fact, the entire party engaged in a run. The road pa.s.sed over low hills, covered with timber and tall ferns. While the Congressional and Indian Departments were going at a fearful speed, a representative of the latter went over his horse"s head, and soon felt the weight of the United States Senate crushing the Indian Department almost to death.
The parties referred to will recognize the picture.
This was not the first time, or the last either, that the Senate of the United States has "been down on the Indian Department."
Without serious damage, both were again mounted, and soon were fording Siletz river,--a deep, narrow stream, whose bed was full of holes, slight--"irregularities," as defaulters would say.
We crossed in safety, except that one horse carried his rider into water too deep for wading. It matters not who the rider was, or whether he belonged to Congress or the Indian Department.
On reaching the prairie a sight presented itself, that gives emphatic denial to the oft-repeated declaration, that Indians cannot be civilized.
Spread out before us was a scene that words cannot portray. The agency building occupied a plateau, twenty feet above the level of the valley.
They were half hidden by the remnants of a high stockade that had been erected when the Indians were first brought on to the agency fresh from the Rogue-river war. At that time a small garrison was thought necessary to prevent rebellion among the Indians, and to secure the safety of the officers of the Indian Department.
It was, doubtless, good judgment, under the circ.u.mstances. Here were the remnants of fourteen different tribes and bands, who had been at war with white men and each other, and who, though subjugated, had not been thoroughly "_reconstructed_."
They were located in the valley, within sight of the agency, and were living in little huts and shanties that had been built by the Government.
Each tribe had been allotted houses separated from the others but a few hundred yards at farthest. They drew their supplies from the same storehouse, used the same teams and tools, and were in constant contact.
They had come here at the command of the United States Government, in chains, bearing with them the trophies of war; some of them being fair-haired scalp-locks, and others were off red men"s heads. Think for a moment of enemies meeting and wearing these evidences of former enmity; shaking hands while each was in possession of the scalp-locks of father or brother of the others!
But, at the time of the visit referred to, no sentinel walked his rounds.
No bayonet flashed in the sunshine on the watch-tower of the stockade at Siletz. The granaries and barns were unbarred; even Agent Simpson"s own quarters were unlocked day and night. Fire-arms and tools were unguarded; Indians came and went at will, except that Agent Simpson had so taught them that they never entered without a preliminary knock. The Indian men came not with heads covered, but in respectful observance of ceremony.
The kitchen work and house-keeping were done by Indian women, under the direction of a white matron. The agent"s table afforded the best of viands. Tell the world that Indians cannot be civilized! Here were the survivors of many battles, who, but a few short years since, had been brought under guard, some of them loaded with chains, and with blood on their hands, who were living as I have described.
Sometimes, it is true, the remembrance of former feuds would arouse the sleeping fires of hatred and desire for revenge amongst themselves, and fights would ensue. But no white man has ever been injured by these people while on the Reservation, since their location at Siletz.
This statement is made in justice to the Indians themselves, and in honor of those who had control of them, both of whom merit the compliment.
Amongst these people were Indian _desperadoes_, who had exulted in the b.l.o.o.d.y deeds they had committed. One especially, braver than the rest, named Euchre Bill, boasted that he had _eaten the heart of one white man_.
This he did in presence of Agent Simpson, during an effort of the latter to quell a broil. The agent, always equal to emergencies, replied, by knocking the fellow down, handcuffing him, and shutting him up in the guard-house, and feeding him on bread and water for several days, after which time he was released, with the warning that, the next time he repeated the h.e.l.lish boast, he would "not need handcuffs, nor bread and water." Bill understood the hint. The agent remarked to us that "Bill was one of his main dependants in preserving order."
During our visit we went with the agent to see Euchre Bill. He was hewing logs. On our approach he dropped the axe, and saluted the agent with "Good-morning, Mr. Simpson," at the same time extending his hand. When informed of the personality of our party, Bill waved his hat, and made a slight bow, repeating the name of each in turn.
We looked in on the school then in progress; we found twenty-five children in attendance. They gave proof of their ability to use the English language, and understand its power to express ideas; the lessons were all in primary books. Their recitations were remarkable. Outside of books they had been instructed in practical knowledge, and answered readily in concert to the questions, Who is President of the United States? What city is the capital? Who is Governor of Oregon? Where is the capital located?
Who is Superintendent of Indian Affairs? What year is this? How many months in a year? When did the count of years begin? Who was Jesus Christ?
And many other questions were asked and readily answered. The boys were named George Washington, Dan Webster, Abe Lincoln, James Nesmith, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan,--each answering to a big name. "Dan Webster" delivered in pa.s.sable style an extract from his great prototype"s reply to Hayne.
The school also joined the teacher in singing several Sunday-school hymns, and popular songs. Short speeches were made by visitors and teachers. We were much encouraged by what we saw, and left _that_ school-house with the belief that Indian children can learn as readily as others when an opportunity is given them. I have not changed my conviction since; much of its prosperity was due to the teacher, William Shipley, who was fitted for the work and gave his time to it. We also called at some of the little settlements. The agency farm was tilled in common; notwithstanding we saw many small gardens around the Indian houses, growing vegetables, and in one or more "_tame flowers_." At one place several men were at work on a new house, some of them shingling, others clinking cracks. One man was hewing out, with a common axe, a soft kind of stone for a fire-place.
We entered the house of "Too-toot-na Jack," the champion oarsman. He welcomed his vanquished rival in the boat-race above referred to, and his friend, and offered one an arm-chair, and stools to the remainder. His wife came in, and Jack said, "This is my woman, Too-toot-na Jinney. She is no fool either. She has a cooking-stove in the kitchen." Jinney was much older than her husband; but that was not unusual. She was a thrifty housewife, and was a financier,--had saved nearly one thousand silver half-dollars; and what she lacked in personal charms, on account of tattooed chin and gray hairs, she made up, like many a fairer woman, in the size of the buckskin purse wherein she kept her coin. Jack seemed fully to appreciate the good qualities of his "woman;" not because he had access to her fortune, but because _she_ was old and _he_ was young, and the chances were that _he_ would be at _her_ funeral.
That hope has made many a better fellow than Too-toot-na behave with becoming reverence for his wife. But "many a slip "twixt cup and lip"
applies to all kinds of people. Jack never realized on _his investment_.
_He_ went _first_, and Jinney is now a rich widow, and has no doubt marriage offers in abundance.
We were present on "court day," the agent holding it for the adjustment of all kinds of difficulties among his people. In such cases he appoints juries from among the bystanders, always taking care to select such as had no tribal affinities with the parties to the suit. He had a sheriff in every tribe, and on occasions where their own friends were interested he summoned others to act. He _himself_ was the _court and high sheriff_, and always _sat_ with a large hickory cane, called "Old Moderator."
My readers may smile at this kind of a gavel; but it was a practical and useful thing to have in such courts,--much more potential than Blackstone or any other kind of commentaries, unless, indeed, it be the last revised edition of Samuel Colt.
The records of that court were sometimes made on untanned parchment; by which I mean, my poor, unsophisticated reader, that these Indian citizens would sometimes forget very willingly to observe the decorum due before that august tribunal, and fall to making a record for themselves and on one another with fists, clubs, whips, knives, pistols, and other lively weapons, until the good Judge Simpson completed that record by a vigorous application of the aforesaid hickory club, and some of the citizens had editions for personal adornment.
The walls of the court-room had transcript fragments done in carmine,--or, to be better understood, in "claret." Court day had been announced to the visitors while at breakfast. The senator had been a successful lawyer before entering the political arena; the judge was then in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice; the superintendent had done something in the law line in county courts before justices of the peace.
The court-room was crowded, the doorways and windows were occupied, and black shining eyes were glistening through every crack, all anxious to see and hear. These people, of Siletz especially, were apt imitators, and more readily fell in with the vices and frivolities of civilization than with its virtues and proprieties.
The a.s.sembly was composed of the greatest variety of character, color, costume, and countenance ever found in any court-room. Women were there, learning law. Perhaps, they had, woman-like, intuitively snuffed the purer air of freedom that is soon to sweep over our beautiful country and blast the hopes of demagogues who now _rule_, without _representing_, the better portion of the people.
Old chiefs were there to learn wisdom, to take with them to the hunting-grounds above. Don"t chide them, reader. They never had an even chance in this life; let them have it in the next, if possible.
The boys were there, and why not? They were looking forward to a time when an Indian will be as good as a negro, if they behave as well. They had an eye to political and pecuniary affairs. In fact, the people were all there except camp-watchers and sick ones.
When our party were seated, the "Moderator" touched the floor, and soon all was silent.
These Indians are fond of "law," and since the old law and new--that is to say, Indian and white men"s--were somewhat mixed up, it was a difficult matter to execute justice uniformly. Agent Simpson, being a practical man, had not sought to enforce the white men"s law any further than the Indian comprehended it.
The Indian lawyers were on hand ready for business. The first case called was for a.s.sault and battery. The court and the visitors had been partial witness of the little fight, which occurred the day previous to the trial, on the "Plaza," in front of the agent"s head-quarters. The contestants were clutchmen (women); _the cause of war_, the only thing that women ever fight about,--_a man_.
The statement in court was to the effect that one woman had stolen another woman"s husband. The parties were arraigned, the statement made concerning the case, and the matter compromised by sending both parties to the "Sku k.u.m" House (Guard House).
The next case called was that of a man charged with unlawfully using a horse belonging to some one else. The accused was ordered to pay for the offence about what the real service of the animal was worth; no damages were allowed. The third case was somewhat similar to the first.
One of Joshua"s people--name of a tribe--claimed damage for insulted honor, and destruction of his domestic happiness.
A Rogue-river Indian had, very much after the fashions of civilized life, by presents and petty talk, persuaded the wife of the aforesaid warrior to elope with him. The old history of poor human nature had been repeated.
The villain deserted his victim, and she returned to her home. Her husband, with observing eyes discovered more ic-tas (goods) in the woman"s possession than could be accounted for on honorable grounds, and demanded an explanation. She made "a clean breast," and agreed to go into court with her husband and claim _damages_, not divorce; for I have before remarked that Indians were eminently practical. The husband demanded _satisfaction_. The accused, whose name was "Chetco Dandy," would have accorded him the privilege of a fight; but that was not the satisfaction demanded. The husband had made his ultimatum. _Two horses_ would settle the unpleasantness. Chetco, however, owned but one. The court decided that he should make ten hundred rails, and deliver the horse to the injured husband, with the understanding that the latter was to _board_ him while doing the work.
I can"t resist a query: how long a white man, under such arrangements, would require to make ten hundred rails. The husband was satisfied, his honor was vindicated, and he owned another horse. After the docket was cleared, a council talk was had.
These people had been placed here by the Government, in 1856, numbering then, according to Superintendent Nesmith"s report for 1857, 2,049 souls, representing fourteen bands; and although, in 1869, they numbered little more than half as many, they kept up tribal relations, at least so far as chieftainship was concerned. In the council that day one or two of the chiefs represented tribes in bands of ten or twenty persons; and one poor follow, the last of his people, stood alone without const.i.tuency. He was a chief, nevertheless.
I cannot report here the reflection that such a circ.u.mstance suggests,--only that he, with the usual solemn face of an Indian in council, seemed the personification of loneliness.
The speeches made by these people evinced more sense than their appearance indicated. They were dependent on the Government, and felt their helplessness. When the usual speeches had been made preliminary to business talk, I said to them that I was gratified at the advancement they had made, considering the circ.u.mstances, and that I was willing for them to express their wishes in regard to the expenditure of money in their interest.
They were loth to speak on this matter, because they had never been consulted, and a recognition of their manhood was more than they had expected. After some deliberation, during which they, like bashful boys, asked one another, each nudging his neighbor to speak first, old Joshua at last arose, half hesitatingly, and said, "Maby, I don"t understand you. Do you mean that we may say what we want bought for us? n.o.body ever said that before, and it seems strange to me."