After service we rode through the Cayuse camp, but saw no evidence of Sunday there. The young warriors were lounging about their lodges, preparing their arms or taking care of their horses, to be ready for their evening races. The Christianity among these Indians, we suspect, is confined to the Nez Percés.
Monday, May 28th.—At noon to-day I rode out about five miles from our camp to visit some gentlemen who reside on the site of one of the old Missions. It was once the residence of the Methodist missionaries, who seem to have succeeded the Roman Catholic priests in some parts of this country. For what reason, I know not, they appear to have abandoned their ground, and when the old adobe buildings stood vacant, being well situated, with timber around, they were taken by these gentlemen who were endeavoring to raise stock, to sell to emigrants crossing the plains, or settlers who will soon be "locating" themselves through these valleys. They have since abandoned it and moved fifty miles farther into the interior to a claim of their own. About a stone's throw from the house are the graves of Dr. Whitman and his family, (seven in number,) who were murdered in 1847, by a band of Cayuses. He was, I believe, physician to the Mission.
We spent the afternoon at the Nez Percé camp, where a band of some thirty young warriors were engaged in dancing and singing. Their musical instruments are few in number and of the rudest kind. The singing is very harsh, and to us, who listened to it only as a collection of sounds, seemed utterly discordant. The songs are almost entirely extemporaneous, like the Improvisatore recitations of the Italians, a narrative of some past events, or perhaps suggested by the sight of persons present, or by trifling circumstances known to the audience. We never saw the women dancing, and believe they rarely do, and never with the men.
During the dancing we had a little interlude in the shape of a speech. A young chief delivered it, and at the end of each sentence it was repeated in a louder voice by one of the old men. This repetition is their invariable custom, and a crier seems to be a necessary accompaniment to all their villages.
To-day, leading chiefs belonging to some of the most distant tribes, attended by their followers, have been coming in to the camp, and most of those for which the Commissioners have been waiting are now represented. Their encampments and lodges are scattered over the valley for more than a mile, presenting a wild and fantastic appearance. The Council will probably open to-morrow. According to the original orders received by Lieutenant Gracie, this was to have been our last day here, but foreseeing this delay, Governor Stevens had some time ago sent an express to the Dalles, stating the necessity for the soldiers remaining. To-day the express returned, bringing instructions from Major Haller to Lieutenant Gracie, authorizing him to remain on the Council-ground until the treaty was concluded, and informing him that provisions had been sent to the escort for seven days more.
Tuesday, May 29th.—To-day the Council was to have met at twelve, but it was two o'clock before it came together. About eight tribes were represented. Nothing, however, was done but to organize the Council and swear in the interpreters. Governor Stevens then made them a short address. All this occupied about two hours, when it began to rain and the Council adjourned to meet again at ten o'clock to-morrow morning if the weather should be pleasant: otherwise, on the first pleasant day. A fine prospect for the extension of our stay in the valley! There are about five thousand Indians, including squaws and children, on the ground.
We had another of our recherché dinner parties this evening, entertaining one of the gentlemen residing at the Mission, and another attached to Governor Stevens' party. We received to-day news of the inspection visit of General Wool to Fort Vancouver and his order for an expedition to set out on the twentieth of June from Fort Dalles, for the Snake Indian country, the force to be commanded by Major Haller.
Wednesday, May 30th.—At one o'clock this afternoon the Council met, and business seems to be really commencing. It was a very striking scene. Directly in front of Governor Stevens' tent a small arbor had been erected, in which, at a table, sat several of his party taking notes of every thing said. In front of the arbor on a bench sat Governor Stevens and General Palmer, and before them, in the open air, in concentric semicircles, were ranged the Indians, the chiefs in the front ranks, in the order of their dignity, while the far back ground was filled with women and children. The Indians sat on the ground, (in their own words,) "reposing on the bosom of their Great Mother." There were probably a thousand present at a time.
After smoking for half an hour, (a ceremony which with them precedes all business,) the Council was opened by a short address from General Palmer. Governor Stevens then rose and made a long speech, setting forth the object of the Council and what was desired of them. As he finished each sentence, the interpreters repeated it to two of the Indians, who announced it in a loud voice to the rest—one in the Nez Percé and the other in the Walla-Walla language. This process necessarily causes business to move slowly.
Many of the Indians have been to our camp to visit us to-day among them, Stechus, an old Chief of the Cayuses.