Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/46

36 and, taking seats within the stone sanctuaries, communed in silence with the Great Spirit. Bowing the head upon the hands and resting them upon the knees for a few moments, then sitting erect and gazing to the West over the enchanting valley interspersed with meadow, grove and stream, who can tell but they felt as sacred and elevated religious emotion as those who have succeeded them on the butte? The Catholics have purchased it and erected upon its summit an awe-inspiring cathedral, and there upon Mount Angel, as they have named it. the prayers of the religious ascend. The Indians' name for this grand mount, dedicated by them to the service of their God, was Tap-a-lam-a-ho, signifying in our language Mount of Communion; the plain to the West Chek-ta, signifying beautiful or enchanting.

Now, looking at and comparing the two modes of worship, could any unprejudiced person fail to give the preference to the so-called savage—that is, if we are to regard Christ's precepts as worthy of note? He did not climb to the top of Tap-a-lam-a-ho to show off his good clothes, to be heard of men, to proselyte, or to increase his worldly gear. What was his purpose? Evidently religious worship. What was the burden of his supplication? As to that we can only infer that, like other human beings, he prayed for what he wanted. He was not, however, in want of food, for the Abiqua was swarming with trout; the valley was blue with the bloom of his edible root, the sweet camas; from every grove came the love notes of the grouse, and the mountains near at hand were populous with bigger game. He did not want clothing, for the fur that "armed the bear warmed him. In all that great valley of the Willamette he had not an enemy from whom he sought deliverance, and being no politician and not aspiring to place, I have been at my wits' end in trying to ﬁx upon a rational subject of his prayer, except it be that unrest of spirit which seeks escape from the bonds of clay and longs to rest in sublimer spheres, a characteristic of all the tribes of men. If not so, why should he ascend to the mountain top to pray? Why not pray on low ground? I put this latter question to the unostentatious worshippers; and although they were untaught