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forty to fifty canoes in a fair state of preservation。 According to
the custom of all Indian tribes on the Pacific coast； when one of
their number died all his worldly effects were buried with him； so
that the canoes were filled with old clothes； blankets； pieces of
calico and the like； intended for the use of the departed in the
happy hunting grounds。
I made known to the Indians that we would have to take this piece of
ground for the blockhouse。 They demurred at first； for there is
nothing more painful to an Indian than disturbing his dead； but they
finally consented to hold a council next day on the beach； and thus
come to some definite conclusion。 Next morning they all assembled；
and we talked in the Chinook language all day long； until at last
they gave in； consenting； probably； as much because they could not
help themselves； as for any other reason。 It was agreed that on the
following day at 12 o'clock； when the tide was going out； I should
take my men and place the canoes in the bay； and let them float out
on the tide across the ocean to the happy hunting…grounds：
At that day there existed in Oregon in vast numbers a species of
wood…rat； and our inspection of the graveyard showed that the canoes
were thickly infested with them。 They were a light gray animal；
larger than the common gray squirrel； with beautiful bushy tails；
which made them strikingly resemble the squirrel； but in cunning and
deviltry they were much ahead of that quick…witted rodent。 I have
known them to empty in one night a keg of spikes in the storehouse in
Yamhill； distributing them along the stringers of the building； with
apparently no other purpose than amusement。 We anticipated great fun
watching the efforts of these rats to escape the next day when the
canoes should be launched on the ocean； and I therefore forbade any
of the command to visit the graveyard in the interim； lest the rats
should be alarmed。 I well knew that they would not be disturbed by
the Indians； who held the sacred spot in awe。 When the work of
taking down the canoes and carrying them to the water began；
expectation was on tiptoe； but； strange as it may seem； not a rat was
to be seen。 This unexpected development was mystifying。 They had
all disappeared； there was not one in any of the canoes； as
investigation proved； for disappointment instigated a most thorough
search。 The Indians said the rats understood Chinook； and that as
they had no wish to accompany the dead across the ocean to the happy
hunting…grounds； they took to the woods for safety。 However that may
be； I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the burial…ground；
and our long talk of the day before； with the unusual stir and
bustle； had so alarmed the rats that； impelled； by their suspicious
instincts； they fled a danger； the nature of which they could not
anticipate； but which they felt to be none the less real and
impending。
CHAPTER VII。
LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGESTRANGE INDIAN CUSTOMSTHEIR DOCTORS…
…SAM PATCHTHE MURDER OF A WOMANIN A TIGHT PLACESURPRISING THE
INDIANSCONFLICTING REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUNSECESSION
QUESTION IN CALIFORNIAAPPOINTED A CAPTAINTRANSFERRED TO THE EAST。
The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without
further excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food； and
as the buildings； at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my
services as quartermaster were no longer needed； I was ordered to
join my own company at Fort Yamhill； where Captain Russell was still
in command。 I returned to that place in May； 1857； and at a period a
little later； in consequence of the close of hostilities in southern
Oregon； the Klamaths and Modocs were sent back to their own country；
to that section in which occurred； in 1873； the disastrous war with
the latter tribe。 This reduced considerably the number of Indians at
the Grande Ronde； but as those remaining were still somewhat unruly；
from the fact that many questions requiring adjustment were
constantly arising between the different bands； the agent and the
officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied。 Captain Russell
assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control； and
as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook （the 〃court
language〃 among the coast tribes） almost as well as the Indians
themselves； I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on
many critical occasions。
For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had
was the Rogue River band。 For three or four years they had fought
our troops obstinately； and surrendered at the bitter end in the
belief that they were merely overpowered； not conquered。 They openly
boasted to the other Indians that they could whip the soldiers； and
that they did not wish to follow the white man's ways； continuing
consistently their wild habits； unmindful of all admonitions。
Indeed； they often destroyed their household utensils； tepees and
clothing； and killed their horses on the graves of the dead； in the
fulfillment of a superstitious custom； which demanded that they
should undergo； while mourning for their kindred； the deepest
privation in a property sense。 Everything the loss of which would
make them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or
distinguished warriors； and as melancholy because of removal from
their old homes caused frequent deaths； there was no lack of occasion
for the sacrifices。 The widows and orphans of the dead warriors were
of course the chief mourners； and exhibited their grief in many
peculiar ways。 I remember one in particular which was universally
practiced by the near kinsfolk。 They would crop their hair very
close； and then cover the head with a sort of hood or plaster of
black pitch； the composition being clay； pulverized charcoal； and the
resinous gum which exudes from the pine…tree。 The hood； nearly an
inch in thickness； was worn during a period of mourning that lasted
through the time it would take nature； by the growth of the hair；
actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it
had become solidified and hard as stone。 It must be admitted that
they underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives。
It took all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these
absurdly superstitious practices； and it looked as if no permanent
improvement could be effected； for as soon as we got them to discard
one； another would be invented。 When not allowed to burn down their
tepees or houses； those poor souls who were in a dying condition
would be carried out to the neighboring hillsides just before
dissolution； and there abandoned to their sufferings； with little or
no attention； unless the placing under their heads of a small stick
of woodwith possibly some laudable object； but doubtless great
discomfort to their victimmight be considered such。
To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most
difficult。 The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to
bring about tragic results。 They believed firmly in a class of
doctors among their people who professed that they could procure the
illness of an individual at will； and that by certain incantations
they could kill or cure the sick person。 Their faith in this
superstition was so steadfast that there was no doubting its
sincerity； many indulging at times in the most trying privations；
that their relatives might be saved from death at the hands of the
doctors。 I often talked with them on the subject； and tried to
reason them out of the superstitious belief； defying the doctors to
kill me； or even make me ill； but my talks were unavailing； and they
always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man； of a
race wholly different from the red man； and that that was the reason
the medicine of the doctors would not affect me。 These villainous
doctors might be either men or women； and any one of them finding an
Indian ill； at once averred that his influence was the cause；
offering at the same time to cure the invalid for a fee； which
generally amounted to about all the ponies his family possessed。 If
the proposition was accepted and the fee paid over； the family； in
case the man died； was to have indemnity through the death of the
doctor； who freely promised that they might take his life in such
event； relying on his chances of getting protection from the furious
relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so assuaged
their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a
restoration of a part of the property； when the rascally leeches
could again resume their practice。 Of course the services of a
doctor were always accepted when an Indian fell ill； otherwise the
invalid's death would surely ensue； brought about by the evil
influence that was unpropitiated。 Latterly it had become quite the
thing； when a patient di