Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/769

718 dred and fifty strong, under Craig and Gervais, had appointed to meet them in council at Waiilatpu. No unity and little discipline existed in the army, because, as Newell said, some men had joined it from motives of patriotism, others for popularity, a certain portion for plunder, and the course taken by the commander was not one to consolidate factions. Gilliam did not, however, attempt to lead the volunteers against the Cayuses before the council, as he had threatened. The Nez Percés arrived about noon on the 6th, and were received by the army with cheers. On the 7th the council opened with the usual ceremony of smoking the calumet of peace. The letter of Governor Abernethy was then given to the chiefs, who broke the seal with much care, but being unable to read it, the contents were delivered through an interpreter, while they listened with close attention. Ellis, the head chief of the Nez Percés, being absent, the first speech in reply was made by Joseph, next in authority, a half-brother of Five Crows, on the mother's side, and like Five Crows a professed Protestant, but who, on hearing of the Cayuse outbreak, had been the first to withdraw his countenance from the missionaries and to join in the plunder of their houses. Said Joseph: "Now I show my heart. When I left my home I took the book (the gospels in the Nez Percé language) in my hand, and brought it with me. It is my light. I heard the Americans were coming to kill me; still I held my book before me, and came on. I have heard the words of your chief. I speak for all the Cayuses present, and all my people. I do not want my children engaged in this war, although my brother is wounded. You speak of the murderers. I shall not meddle with them. I bow my head. This much I speak."

Jacob, the chief, who was wont to practise upon the superstitions of the people to advance his personal popularity, as elsewhere mentioned, said: "It is the law of this country that the murderer shall die. That