Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/44



36 O. B. SPERLIN

in the water. The sweat-bath was an institution among the inland tribes described by all but a few journalists. Lewis and Clark 191 record that the Clatsops washed their hands, evidently a noteworthy event. The same writers describe Indians as fond of hot, 192 cold, and vapor baths, and speak in highest terms of the cleanliness of the Chopunish. Thompson testifies likewise for the Saleesh and numerous other tribes, as does Ross for the Okanogans, and Cook for the Chugatches. Filth was, however, one of the deplorable features of Indian life, not at all in keeping with many other traits of character. Cleanliness among but few tribes was next to godliness in the associations of the sweat-bath, fasting, and prayer. Even the lice-eaters, however, accounted for their filthy custom on the ground of gratitude.

Although Indian vices were fewer than those of white people, they had certain vices which all agree were native to the race, for white men found them when they first came. One from which they suffered most was a combination of gluttony, waste, and improvidence. There were regular seasons of abundance and famine; only few tribes had sufficient foresight to make ample provision against the season of scarcity. Another vice was gambling, the passion for which led to almost unbeliev- able sacrifices. Suicide was rare among the men; and even among the women and slaves, where life was the hardest, it was not very common. Cannibalism was rare ; most tribes, notably the one 193 here in the neighborhood of Tacoma, held the idea in abhorence. Indians made fun of white men for eating dog and horse meat, so common among the Astorians and North- Westers ; some fish-eating tribes even held venison in the same abhorrence. Intoxication, later the Indians' bane, was un- known at first, and was stoutly resisted as shameful and down- right disgraceful. We have shown how in cases of first con- tact Indians regarded white men as superior; but they were soon undeceived in some respects. Drunkenness of the white

191 Original Journals: III.

193 Original Journals: III and IV.

193 Vancouver: Journal: II., p. 136.