Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/14

2 heads. Thus the missionary movement to Oregon was started, publicity concerning which helped to hasten the pioneer movement a few years later.

Pertinent to the above facts and to this centennial year is inquiry as to what opportunity had come to the Indians residing west of the Rocky Mountains to obtain (prior to the year 1831) knowledge or inklings of knowledge of the God and the religion of the white men. Some such knowledge would have been requisite as incentive for such a long and unusual journey by these four Indians, provided it was undertaken for religious reasons. Of necessity any such knowledge would have come through the channels of the fur trade and our inquiry must include brief mention of the tribal habits and customs at that period.

During uncounted years previous to 1831 herds of buffalo ranged over the treeless plains of the upper Missouri and Snake River valleys and the Indians from as far west as the Columbia River were accustomed to engage in an annual buffalo hunt during spring and summer, not in large numbers, however, because this hunting carried them into the Blackfoot country at considerable hazard. These tribes included the Cayuses, Walla Wallas and Spokanes, but more numerously the Nez Perces and Flatheads. As early as 1822 American fur traders from Saint Louis penetrated into the Green River valley by way of South Pass and soon afterward spread into the Snake River and Salt Lake regions. These were before the time of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, Ashley, Henry, Jackson, the Sublettes and Jedediah Smith, and their hunters. About 1825 they put into operation that remarkable mart of trade known as "rendezvous;” usually held for a week or ten days in July in the Green River valley near the western end of South Pass. At rendezvous the packs of food stuffs, trading goods, etc., from Saint Louis were opened and sold or distributed to the field hunters and trappers then living in the mountains the entire year, and to the Indians. The pack animals were reloaded with