Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/29

 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN INDIAN AGENT. 21 at the agency, he and his people returned and now manifested much interest in the new departure. He at once set his ad- herents to work making rails from the balm trees growing along the Umatilla River, and before spring had enough to fence several acres of prairie land. He came frequently to talk and solicited my advice as to where he should begin his improvements. I suggested the springs at the foot of the Blue Mountains on the immigrant road as being a first-class situa- tion in many respects, and chiefly for the reason that he would have a high price market for everything he could raise right at his door. He saw the point, and I surveyed a square ten- acre lot for him, including the springs, which would afford plenty of water for irrigation. I may anticipate a little by saying that he fenced and cul- tivated a part of the lot, raising corn, peas, beans, roots, melons and squashes, etc., and that I ate melons of excellent quality with him on the 4th of July of the same year, 1863. At that time he was very much downcast in spirits, as Agent Barnhart returning to the agency, had issued an order dis- possessing him, and taking the location for a stage and trad- ing station. Homely wanted me to intercede in his behalf, but I was powerless.. He said it was too good for him an Indian and his face bore a dark expression not very difficult of interpretation. As a diversion I said to him, ' ' Go and pick out another place and improve it; there is plenty of fine land within your reservation." Like the great majority of man- kind, Homely 's enlightenment came too late to make the most out of it. Several other lots were surveyed, fenced and cultivation commenced, and only a lack of teams and wagons prevented a more general engagement in farming operations by the In- dians. Another condition stood in the way of general ad- vancement, and that was the subordination of the common herd to the sway of their chiefs. As a rule nothing new could be undertaken by them without the chief's consent, and that would depend altogether upon the effect he considered it might have upon his own personal interests. The influential