Page:Wishram by Henry J. Biddle.djvu/19

128 and removal to the reservation allotments have left only three or four families—less than 20 persons."

(The writer thinks this estimate of the population too low. On the 2nd of January of this year, nine persons were counted in one small shack where one would hardly expect half that number.)

Mr. Ranck, in a letter to the writer, of Feb. 8, 1926, says:

"During my term as register of the Vancouver Land Office, from 1912 to 1916, Indians of the Wishram tribe frequently visited the Land Office at Vancouver, and told me a great deal concerning the old Wisham trading-mart. Chief Speedus, hereditary chief of the Wisham Indians, 'Wisham Sam,' and other Wisham Indians, told me that the ancient Wisham trading-town was situated adjoining the little railroad station known as 'Spedis.' In 1921, upon the invitation of Chief Speedus, I visited this old Indian village, and was shown around the town by the Chief, and other Indians. They al joined in assuring me that this was the ancient and historic trading-town of the Wisham tribe. In this they were corroborated by the mother and grandmother of Chief Speedus—the latter being Princess Shaw-naw'-way, the aged queen of the tribe. There is no doubt in my mind that this litle Indian village near the Spedis station is all that remains of the historic Wisham trading-mart."

In order not to lengthen this article, the writer has refrained from quoting the early writers except in regard to the location of Wishram. An exception has only been made in giving mentions of population, in order to show that this was always a point of importance among the Indians. Much has been written about the trading and gambling that took place there in the early days. But mention must be made of the fact that this was one of the best fishing points on the river, and for that reason its inhabitants clung to it.