The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-07-27

with Its richly wooded and clustering
Islands, several of which come Immediately
under the Eye, and seem to shu, the way
against the waters above, revealing only
glimpses of the far-reaching sea beyond,
through the siIvery channels lying between.
cipitous mountains for Its eastern shore,
though less lofty, which had been the bar.
rier on our right, II the way; higher and
holder mountains on the west, with far
reaching arms, indented bays and rocky
headlands, It sweeps with graceful curves
and lowering banks, towards the southwest,
on our left, funnel like, where the mighty
food of blue waters become gathered up
and defined into the broad and onward
current of the Flathcad-or % some insist
On calling it, Pen d'Oreillc River-s stream
a. THIS point, say 500 yards in width, and
deep enough to float . steamships truly
grand and majestic river, entirely wothy Of
the magnificent source Of its supply.
We were now within mile or two of
the Lake-althcugh up to this time it had
been hidden from our anxious and expectant
r'"ht and few minutes ride down the des.
ccnding tcGi4, trough: US to the edge of the
water, rirpl'Hg upon the pebbly shores,
refreshed by the cool breeze from the water.
and cheered by the charming prospect before
u.s. We found here cabin, the residence
Of the half breed, who owns
THE FERRY,
and number Of lodges of Indians, chiefly
.kootenais The old way was to ferry per.
sons across In skiff, and swim horses and
spectacle fat.boat, propelled by oars,
worked by Indian or half breed power:
We were not long in negotiating terms
four dollars and half for 10 three, aud
our four animals. In thirty minutes two of
us and three of the horses were landed
safely on the west side of the river; We
were obliged to swim one horse across
big undertaking and very risky for horse
hcsh-fearing lest he might misunderstand
tho nature Of fiat boats; the horse, 4 fine
big bay was timid and breecby, and apt to
stampede on every occasion, but 1t 10 highly
creditable to his horse sense that upon re.
turning no went quietly aboard the boat,
and seemed to consider It great improve.
ment on swimming. It occupied 10 about
one hour In crossing, but we who waited
on the west bank, were probably mploycI.
In observing the
INDIANS AND THEIR HABITS,
Of whom there were twelve or fifteen
lodges of Kootcnais. These Indians, /
1.A 'O'u' w NV !Sb"A'"e.Sy UeiVnk w tnIS
Reservation, and are mainly 0utcasts from
their own tribe, who inhsbit British Col.
umbia. They wander back and forth be.
tween Tobacco Plains, on the British border,
and MISUNDERSTANDING, hunting, begging
and stealing. We met with them,
journeying or In camp, oil the way up into
the Flathead Valley, and found them in
Miss0ula on the 4th of July, on our return,
some of the same we had seen at Dayton
Greek, on the west shore of the Lake. At
this season Of the year they find plenty Of
subsistence in the Camas, which We saw
the squsws digging in several places, on
the way up and the fish, which are very
abundant In the Lake, and in the Flsthead
River, at the rapids or falls, two or three
miles above the Lake: The number Of
lodges about the outlet OF the Lake ct this
time, is accounted for by the fishing which
quantities and dried; the camas IL also
cooked and prepared 20 - u be transported
with them. Their living, however, must
be very precarious and poor, ut the best,
aud they show keen relish for -four and
beef, and other articles Of civilized diet,
whenever they can trade for, or beg them.
They have some property in their akin
lodges-horyes and dogs They rarely DOS.
scss any cattle, but frequently gamble away
sll they possess In the world. They are,
many Of them, rather fine looking indians,
and are very docile and civil in their man.
ncrs, but 1--we lnisersbly, dirty and filthy,
and practice every vice within their reach.
Whisky they cannot obtain, except per.
fond OF tobacco, and 1eek every occasion
OF meeting white traveller to beg lt-when
women and children use ii indiscriminstely.
The language Of the KOOtenais differs
greatly from the Flsthead, and the PEN d..
Oreille; 1t has In It peculiar gutteral
and palatal sound, and 10 not without inter.
est and beauty, having . good deal Of
rhythm and force, when continued ut some
length. These Indians live good deal in
their primitive style. Having but seldom
IRE arms, they use the bow and arrow, and
depend much on their dogs-generally q
m0ngre', between the coyote and domestic
dog-in the hunt, and use trsps and rude
kind Of iron hook, with horse hair line, In
fishing-although they have keen appre.
cation Of the superiority Of the civiliIedim
elements, and seek every occasion 10
acquire them. They wear, most Of them,
crosses, aud other amulets, which mark
them ~ Roman Catholics, but they seem TO
practice their primitive rites, and probably
p"ssess few, or no Christian idess they
have, most surely, no moral sentiments
nh.s.. IAN prOtect them from the woDt
vices u the most abandoned white men, or
which would protect civili1ed people
against lhem-if they had the power 70
commit ravsgcs. No benevolent q philan.
thrcpic heart can contemplate them without
being moved BY pity and oommiserati0n, and
without desire TO ameliorste their condi.
tion-,o rescue these poor pcrishing chill.
dscn Of nature from the moral and social
hell, in which they are moving on % utter
extinction and death. Any
a= Foley TOwARDs THEM, ba7e.
whether political OF religious. thst leaves
them und'O :iplined and In their native ig.
norsnce, means cxtirpai0n, aud cannot have
any other result Their status and habits
arc utterly antagonists 70 tho progress end
civilization which y pssoGing In from 81