Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/340

Rh and now chief Ellis was anxious to know how White was going to compensate his people for their disappointment.

At his wit's end how to conciliate and prevent the threatened destruction, the unhappy agent resorted to flattery and fair promises. He feasted his savage guest to his soul's content, showed his library, personally conducted him over his plantation, and in every way treated him with great consideration. Besides this, he promised to write to the governor of California and Captain Sutter concerning the recent disturbance, and also to address the United States government on the subject. Furthermore, he gave Ellis letters for the chiefs, sympathizing with them for the wrongs they had suffered, and inviting them all to visit him in the autumn of 1845 and exchange their worthless drafts for a cow and a calf each out of his own herds. Finally he promised them that if they would defer their invasion of California for two years, and assist him to the amount of two beaver-skins each, he would establish a good school for the children, adjust favorably all their grievances, and at the end of that time would give them five hundred dollars out of his own purse with which to buy cattle in California.

Flattered by the attentions he had received, and elated by the success which he imagined had attended his mission, Ellis returned home to use his influence for peace with the chiefs of the Walla Wallas and Cayuses. But his triumph was not of long duration, for before the autumn of 1845 White was on his way to the States, caring little for his engagements, and leaving no one behind to redeem his promises to pay.

The sub-Indian agent, from the moment he entered upon his duties in Oregon, encountered serious difficulties. So awkwardly did he find himself situated,