Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/137

 teaching the principles of the peacable religion of Jesus Christ. Even at this great remove from the fountain of moral corruption, a small rivulet now and then may be seen. Every year a greater or less No. of Nez Perces are taken to St. Louis, and return, if their constitutions outride the storms of Intemperance & Licentiousness to scatter the seeds of moral death among their unsuspecting countrymen. Nor have I yet, I fear caused to be burnt all the packs of cards which have been sold for the bible to this inoffensive people, long seeking for, and offering any price to get hold of that precious book. So the Devil is found in sheep's clothing even on the Rocky Mts. They tell me they have sometimes given a horse for a single pack of cards, which they were told was positively the word of God; but which they now call the book from below. They tell me they have for some time distrusted a people that would bring fire water to the mountains, drink it & then kill each other. On arriving at W. W. I found, agreeable to promise about 150 Nez Perces, waiting to conduct ourselves and effects to their country. On the 22nd, Mrs. S. and myself, with Br Gray mounted our horses and started for our destined location. The joy this people manifested, when they actually saw us on our way, cannot easily be expressed in words. They had watched our every action from Rendezvoux, fearful, lest after all they should loose us, having, as they suppose, been disappointed twice before. When they saw the Doct. settle among the Chuyoos, their fears were greatly increased; but when they saw our faces turned toward their land, and the object of their long desire about to be accomplished, their joy seemed complete. They took the entire direction of everything, pitched & struck our tent, saddled our horses, and gladly would have put our victuals to our mouths, had we wished it. So eager were they to do all they could to make us comfortable, I was astonished at the ease & rapidity with which they handled & packed our heavy kegs & cases, the latter 16 inches square, 30 inches long weighing usually 125 pounds each. Our effects loaded 21 horses. We reached this place on the 29, everything safe. On approaching this valley, my feelings were peculiar Ten months had rolled away, rising every morning only to seek a new place to lay our heads at night. Now we were to camp for life. And when our lodge of Buffalo hides was pitched, we