, 1861-03-07
COMMUNICATED,

To the Editor Of the Puget Sound Herald:
STEnAcooM, March 9th, 1851.
The professional horticulturist may and favor
among the weeds and plants OF Nisqnally Bot
tom-the zoographer, whether Barnums ennis.
sary, or delegated from the London Geological
Gardens, might wander still further on Elk Plains
(where -barbarisn shuts up civization) and find
some curious specimen Of the indigenous savage,
who, for bottle Of whiskey or Q string Of glass
beads, could see war dance, or o man roasted
and eaten, as In the Fejee Islands It is to q
species Of this breed that now invite the pub.
lie attention to. James Riley, denizen Celt Of
the aforementioned Plains and disturber of
the commonwealth Of the nation, and the laws
Of Pierce County, who has had as many fights
as hairs on his head, and like his great country
man Dan 0Connell, who said at one time in the
House Of Parliament "that he'd drive coach
and four horses through their laws" James has
done the same thing in SteilacOOm, with this ex-
ceptiOn that having no coach or horses he has
contented himself so far by only driving himself
and his horse through our laws here, which he
has succeeded in doing most admirably SO Gar.
Some weeks ago James turned up again in this
country; he being considerable Of Q brick him.
SELF took another brick, and gained Q glorious
victory over Mr.. Van Buren, (n0 relation Of ex.
President Van BUREN, and al his ieathered fam.
lily, and got of "scoIt free" as usual. Elated
with bis fresh victories, and innumerable little
side issues, James arrived in Steilacoom, Friday,
March I, saw bis friends, took small drop Of
the "craythur" and got in q fair way 70 do busi-
ness up In his usual style. About this time the
attributes peculiar TO . savage life were power
fully arrested BY James observing astrange race
Of people doing business among US. Now as
Mr.. Riley never saw such "haythens" before,
and Is his knowledge OF modern literature ex-
tended only to the history Of ireland, is Il any
wonder that genuine Chinese "JOss house"
attracted his attention, as q menagery would o
South Sea Is,andcr'sf In truth Il was some
time before the hero Of this sketch would ven
ture near enough to the Asiatics, but on his be-
ing assured that " they would not bite" andeye-
ing them with superlatiye grin, pronounced
them queer looking devils" Now James Riley
thought be saw al the representatives Of the
human family at Muck and Elk Plains, and be-
ing mentally deranged by the introduction Of Q
new race Of moon-eyed monsters into his pate Is
Il any wonder that he should make arrangements
TO remove the top Of Johns" head of with the
aid Of pistol, and appropriate to himself
" Johns" bed and better half with other naughty
things which ] will not mention here, and for
which Justice Rabheson bound him over 70 the
District Court in the sum Of 5000.
That the law ought TO DO enforced admit,
but Is there no other way Of civilizing such ami
mAlsf propose Philanthropic Foreign Pro-
lection Society, to secure the Riley family and
his tribe from vulgar inteFmixture, 80 that We
may preserve to our posterity some curious spec
linens, Of this interesting race. For the better
protection Of the breed, perhaps the Hudson
Bay Company may bequeath to rs one Of their
old forts for menageFy. We could then collect
the wandering herd together, and invite some
speculative ethnologist to take charge Of them.
I am sure the speculation would pay well, as we
could then select our representatives every year
from the less furious Of the collection.
PEfER.