Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/305

Rh any tendency to nervousness, and giving his hand to each, with a little tobacco, invited them to be seated in a circle, in the middle of which he placed himself and his interpreter.

Two hours were spent in explaining to them his purpose in coming to them, which was to make them the friends of the white people at Port Orford, who had established themselves there with the intention of remaining. He, as representative of the Port Orford people, had come to talk with them, and would be glad if some of them would return with him, and see his friends for themselves. At first it seemed as if a few would go, but their hearts failing them they finally withdrew their consent. A feast of boiled salmon and bread was next resorted to; after which pieces of calico were given to each warrior, and a red silk sash from Parrish s own person to the head chief, who, in return, presented as a token of friendship a sea-otter skin. But he was unable to induce any of the Coquilles to put themselves in the power of the white people. Thus failed the first attempt to treat with the Coquilles.

Before leaving Oregon City for Port Orford, Superintendent Dart had, on learning that the informal treaty made by Governor Gaines with the Rogue-rivers had been violated, a number of murders and robberies having been committed, sent word to these Indians to meet him at Port Orford. Now, if there is one thing more than another that an Indian will not do, it is to invade the territory of a neighboring tribe with whom he is not allied, except for purposes of hostility, and that Dart should have known. That he did not know the distance or the difficulty of communication was not singular, when it is remembered that the Port Orford company published it as thirty-five miles. However that may be, the Indians were more irritated than tranquilized by the superintendent s message to them. The whole number of murders committed by the Rogue-rivers during the summer of 1851 was thirty-eight,