Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/702

Rh for their own families, besides selling to the immigrants. In the matter of cattle, also, they had eagerly acquired all they could purchase or steal from the passing caravans, and had attempted to form a cattle company to buy a herd in California, with what result the reader knows. Perhaps this attempt of the Walla Wallas is the highest imitation of civilization attained to by them or by any Oregon Indians, as it not only was a business organization, but partook something of the character of an invasion, or an act of colonization, since in 1847 we find the Walla Wallas in California assisting Frémont to capture the country. The chief of this expedition, Peupeumoxmox, was reputed to have so far benefited by his observations abroad as to give good counsel to his people and the Cayuses on his return, but the truth of his reported friendship for the white people is not well established by the evidence. Palmer met him in the spring of 1846, when he related the death of his son in California, and declared his intention of going there to avenge his loss. This desire accounts for his willingness to aid Frémont. Palmer also says that he was surly toward the immigration of 1845, and had even made hostile demonstrations.

There was, at the time under consideration, a number of dissolute characters, half-breeds from the mountains to the east, hanging upon the skirts of the travellers, men whose wild blood was full of the ichor of hatred of religion and civilization, and poisoned with jealousy of the white race, the worst traits only of which they had inherited. These men among the natives were like fire in tow, their evil practices and counsel scorching every shred of good the missionaries by patient effort had been able to