Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/263

 RECOLLECTIONS OP AN INDIAN AGENT. 255 sticks as high as the knee. And what was the purpose of these stone chairs ? I was determined to know, and the older white residents said the Indians made them but for what purpose they could not say. I became a witness to the use, and was particularly impressed with the fitness for what I saw. Indians from the north and south traveling that way generally camped upon the banks of the Abiqua Creek, a rapid stream of pure, cold water, just issued from the mountains upon the plain. The butte was near, and fchis they ascended 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-inspir- ing cathedral, and there upon Mt. 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, ' ' sig- nifying 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 pre- cepts as worthy of note ? The savage 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 low notes of the grouse, and the mountains near at hand were populous with bigger game ; he did not want clothing, for the