Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/113

 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN INDIAN AGENT. 105 "Yes, I see ; but there are some objections to it. In the first place, though the goods here are of the best quality, they will hardly suffice to keep the Indians, especially the women and children, comfortable during the cold weather, and if I should substitute ,f ive-pound blankets for eight-pound, light woolens for those more substantial, porous shaw.ls for those close woven, there would be, undoubtedly, considerable suffering before spring." They replied that a blanket is a blanket, a shawl is a shawl, calico is calico and linsey is linsey to an Indian. "Perhaps," said I, "that an Indian is not an expert in the dry goods business, but would they not feel the differ- ence very sensibly, and how could I help knowing that I had contributed to their discomfort ? Look here, ' ' said I, " I will not consider the proposition a minute unless you will come and stay here where you can be a witness with me to the desti- tution and misery the change will bring." Antoine broke out with a spluttering laugh and a question, "What did they say to your proposition?" "Say! Why, they laughed a very different kind of laugh from yours, and said, 'We had not thought you so chicken hearted. ' You are mistaken, said I, it is you who are chicken hearted and afraid to come here and face the music with me. We parted in a friendly manner, and they acted as though they felt cheap, to think they had been beguiled into a full explanation of a scheme which they could not deny would bring misery to human beings." After this explanation I thought proper to speak to them of the annuities which we would begin to issue within the next week, and I addressed my words to the chiefs of the three tribes, Howlish Wampo, Pierre, and Winam Snoot, "You and your people have expressed your confidence in my good intentions but you must remember that the means placed at my disposal are very limited. We shall issue all the goods to you, and as near equally as possi- ble, but you will be disappointed. There are not enough coats and pants for the men and not enough shawls for the women. So, after consultation with you and the interpreter, the coats,