Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/33



THE INDIAN OF THE NORTHWEST 25

they seemed to resemble the songs of the birds, which amuse the ear, without touching the heart." He 119 further records that chiefs had no use for poetry and music except to praise their god and celebrate the deeds of illustrious living heroes ; but music, he said, was used "profanely among the Plebeans." Cook 120 says that these Indians were fond of music and sang in the exactest concert, great numbers together. Their songs were slow and solemn, the variations numerous and expres- sive, the cadence and melody powerfully soothing. Mar- chand 121 says that all beat time, and that they have so true an ear that never more than a single stroke is heard. Meares 122 was charmed with the music of the Tatooches, "for its simple melody of nature ; proceeding in perfect union and exact meas- ure from 400 voices; it found its way to our hearts." The unknown author of "A New Vancouver Journal" 123 thus com- pliments Maquinna's entertainment of song, dance, and panto- mime: "Thus ended this entertainment in which there was something grand and curious and well worth coming the dis- tance from Nootka to see alone." Fray Crespi, 124 hearing the Kaicanies sing, exclaims "By the air we knew that they were pagans!"

To sum up: All except the French observer La Perouse agree that the Indians believed in a good spirit ; that there were no temples, no idols, no priests; that there was little public worship; that prayer was common, especially in retirement; that though they believed in "Life after Death," their ideas of that future life varied; and that music was usually asso- ciated with religion.

That Indians were honest and faithful to their word is re- corded and exemplified by most of the journals. Mackenzie 125 reports that they were remarkable for honesty. The wretched Sicanies left the beaver skins as promised stuck up on a pole,

119 Ibid: p. 151-

120 Voyage: II., p. 310.

121 Voyage: I., p. 351.

1 22 Voyage: p. 157.

123 Wash. Hist. Quarterly: V., p. 305.

124 Crespi: Diary.

125 Voyages: II., 35.