Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/42

24 do what servants ought to do, and were not able to make allowance for the poverty of missionary societies.

An indiscreet remark of Dr. Parker s on his visit to them was also the occasion of much trouble. Dr. Parker, they said, had told them that their land should not be taken for nothing, but that they should be paid annually in goods and agricultural implements, that being "the American fashion."

A year had not elapsed before a chief known as Splitted Lip ordered Dr. Whitman off the land he had taken to cultivate on the Walla Walla river, because he had not paid for it. In 1838, the same chief threatened the doctor with death should he fail to cure his wife, whom he was treating for some sickness. It would seem that Dr. Whit man thought these threats idle, or that the protection of the Hudson s Bay Company would suffice, for he went on teaching, assisted by Mrs. Whitman, and at the same time improving his farm.

In the autumn of that year Gray s return from the states, whither he had gone to procure more workers for the missionary field, having with him a wife and seven other persons, men and women,—a small company, indeed,—was the occasion of fresh trouble.

When Gray started for the states in 1837 he took with him a band of Indian horses to exchange for cattle, which were much needed. To aid him Mr. Spalding persuaded three young chiefs of the upper Nez Perces to accompany him, namely, Ellis, Blue Cloak, and Hat. By,the time they had reached the rendezvous of the fur companies on Green river, their horses feet had begun to fail, and two of them turned back, Hat only continuing on. When Ellis and Blue Cloak presented themselves at Lapwai mission. Mr. Spalding, who was an excitable man and felt much anxiety for the success of the expedition, reproached the young chiefs severely, and declared they deserved punish ment for breaking their contract, and leaving Gray in the middle of his journey with insufficient help.