The Oregon Indians, Part II [pp. 425-433]

THE OREGON INDIA NS.
farm, is without a parallel in my knowledge, still, should a reckless fellow from
their own number, or even a stranger,
make an attack on my life and property,
I have no evidence to suppose but a vast
majority of them would look on with indifference, and see our dwelling burnt to
the ground, and our heads severed from
our bodies."
Mr. Spalding, in the same letter, accounts for the "two ideas-one, that the
White Man is in debt to them, and the
other, that he is good in proportion as he
discharges this debt by bountiful giving"
-by referring to the practice of White
Men making presents of tobacco, universally, upon meeting Indians. He
testifies to their eagerness to acquire
knowledge, and speaks of ten Indian
women whom Mrs. Spalding has instructed in knitting, six in spinning and
carding, three in weaving, and many in
sewing. The Nez Perc6 Mission was,
in fact, a very successful one, owing
partly to the native intelligence of the
people, and very much to the patient
and unwearying labors of Mr. and Mrs.
Spalding-the latter very particularly.
We have the history of these six years:
First, a joyful and enthusiastic reception
of the missionaries, especially of the
White women, and great eagerness to
learn every thing which the Whites could
teach-their religion, first and foremost,
because it was presumed to lie at the
foundation of all knowledge. This, on
the part of the Indians. On the part of
the Whites, equal enthusiasm, earnest labor, and good hope of great results.
This was the bright side of the first
chapter in the mission history. The
other side was this: The Indians soon
showed that they felt themselves the
lords of the whole country, and constantly demanded pay for the land the missionaries used, and for every thing it
naturally produced. They became disgusted with a religion which required so
many material sacrifices, and returned so
little material good; and while many still
followed its observances-taking pleasure, perhaps, in the forms of worship, or
dimly hoping that, through perseverance,
some of the promised rewards would
come at last-they grew suspicious of
the intentions of their White teachers,
fearing they meant to bring other Whites
to take away their lands. They were
unable to overcome the superstitions in
which they had been reared, and looked
with distrust upon the practice of Dr.
Whitman among the sick. Many little
jealousies, such as the inferior always
feel toward the superior race, when both
are free, also embittered their intercourse
with their teachers.
Now, keeping these traits in mind, we
have to consider the course of the missionaries. Dr. Whitman had been warned against making presents or promises,
or giving extra wages to the Indians, by
the more experienced British fur-traders.
But it went against his American amour
profire to accept British advice; and
against his generous nature to seem
mean to an Indian. Hence, a serious,
if not fatal, error. In regard to the suspicions of the Indians, that he meant to
fill up the country with White settlers,
he was really guilty; for this design
finally became with him a ruling passion-the more so; perhaps, that, after
a few years, the Indians had ceased to
make any advancement. With regard
to practicing medicine among a people
who held a "medicine man" personally
responsible for the lives of his patients,
one must admire the reckless courage of
the man whose benevolence prompted
him to incur the risk, in the hope of saving life or preventing suffering. At the
same time, it must be admitted that the
mischief which might arise out of it would
not probably be confined to the vengeance which he might be called upon
to suffer in person.
A few extracts from letters, written
during the first six years of missionary
426
[Nov.