Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/304

286 character than himself, a valuable assistant. The Cape Blanco Indians were by him persuaded to undertake finding out what had been the fate of the missing members of T'Vault's party. To accomplish this two Indian women were sent on a visit to the Coquilles, who succeeded in learning the particulars of the affair, and who buried the bodies of the five men who were killed at the village. It was believed by them that some had escaped alive.

Several days were spent in considering what was best to be done, and, at length, on the twenty-second of September, Parrish set out for the Coquille, accompanied only by a man of the Tototem tribe on the Columbia river, who had been stolen from the Coquilles when a child. An escort which was offered was rejected. Says Parrish: "I said to Dr. Dart, I want nothing but this Coquille Indian, a pony, ten pounds of bread, some salmon, three brilliant red blankets, thirty yards of calico of the gayest colors, and some tobacco.'"

Arriving on the evening of the second day near the mouth of the Coquille, he fell in with one of the tribe, and found that his interpreter had not forgotten his native tongue. Remaining on the beach he sent his interpreter with the Indian to the Coquille village, telling him to spend the night there if he chose, but to invite the three principal chiefs to visit his camp at nine o clock the next morning, unarmed, at the same time presenting each of them with a red blanket, a square of calico, and some tobacco.

As he had hoped, these gifts were sufficient to induce the chiefs to meet him, and they were received with a hand-shake and a present of more tobacco. But they had no sooner concluded the ceremonials of greeting than twenty or more stalwart fellows appeared, armed with bows and arrows, and the long knives before mentioned, the interpreter conducting them. It looked like treachery, and gave the agent a few quicker heart-beats, but he sub-