Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/37

Rh Before proceeding with this history, it might be well to inquire into the characteristics of the people concerned in it previous to the introduction of Protestantism among them, because it would be unjust to both parties to rep resent the Indians as in a wholly untaught state when the missionaries of the Presbyterian church came among them. On the contrary they had what might be called a national religion.

Recent writers have seldom made sufficient distinction between the Flatheads and the Nez Percés. From Lewis and Clarke we learn that they were originally the same people, although their dialect had come to differ, as well as their habits. The Flatheads lived in the Bitter Root valley, and occupied the country northwest and westward to the Blackfoot river. Their territory shaded off into the Nez Percés country, and they very much resembled the upper Nez Percés. Both received strangers cordially, when satisfied they were not foes; but while the Flatheads were brave, determined, and honest, the Nez Percés were of a weaker character, and would steal and beg. In dress, they resembled each other. The men wore buffalo or elk-skin robes, ornamented with beads. Bits of sea shells, chiefly mother of pearl, were worn attached to an otter-skin collar, and hung in the hair, which was plaited in two braids falling in front. They also wore feathers in the hair, and used paint of several colors on their persons. The women wore a skirt of ibex-skin reaching to their ankles, and festooned with shells and other ornaments, but did not wear ornaments on the head. As to food, the Nez Percés were very poor, and very much disinclined to part with a morsel. Nevertheless, such was their love of ornaments, that by selling the buttons off their coats, empty medicine phials, and empty boxes, the first explorers were able to purchase a scanty supply of provisions from them.

Lewis and Clarke, on coming among the Cayuses, found them famishing, so that they greedily picked the bones