The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-02-14

usual Medicine ceremonies were resorted
to. Medicine grounds abounded through
ont the country and propitiatory offerings,
consisting of beads, tobacco, etc., were hung
on peculiar trees or laid on certain rocks, to
incline the spirit (who, it was supposed,
held in such places their residence), to give
| them success on the war-path, hunting ex-
| cursions, or any other important undertak-
ing.
A CURIOUS LAKE.
| Even at this day, some of the most prom
| inent Indians, among whom is Victor, head
chief of the Flathead nation, believe in the
existence of Lake, said to be located some
| where in the mountains between the coun-
try of the Upper Pen d Oreilles and Koote-
| nais, which Lake they maintain is inhabited
by all kinds of animals, such as buffalo,
elk, deer, etc., that live and thrive under
the waters Of the Lake, and very large
beaver is the presiding genius over this
submarine assemblage Victor, the above
mentioned chief, says that he has seen this
Lake with his own eyes, and offered last
fall to take one of our distinguished officials
to the spot. However, the season was too
| far advanced, and the project of visiting
this BarnuaaaaD spot was deferred till
next spring. A tradition is current among
these Indians of great flood that at one
time covered all the earth; but that a very
large beaver was saved from the general
destruction. The beaver was always looked
upon by them as an intelligent and superior
animal They used to say, "We are like
the beaver, but little above him; for he
builds houses as we do, but unlike us he
cannot pull them down again.
THE MISSION ESTABLISHED.
Father De Smet on his first visit tarried
that the seeds sown by him were not cast
upon barren soil, and then returned to St.
Louis to report progress and obtain assis-
tance. He returned in 1912, accompanied
by Fathers Point and Mengarini, together
with several lay brothers, and regular
missionary establishment was begun in
Bitter Root valley, under the name and
title of St. Mary's Mission, (after which
Father De Smet left for Europe).
AGRICULTURE
At this time was yet unknown in the Rocky
Mountains. The Indians, indeed, were ac-
customed to rip open the soil, but it was in
search of camas and other esculent roots.
The missionaries, provided with an assort-
ment of seeds and the most indispensable
agricultural implements, opened now the
first farm in Montana" and began to test
to Indians and half-breeds the benefits to
be derived from the culture of the soil
That their time and labor were not lost, is
well proven by the fine farms which the
Flatheads possess in the Bitter Root valley
at the present day
Upon examination it was found that at
least ten different tribes used radically the
same language, viz:
The Kallispells Oower Pen d'Oreilles).
The Sttaketikomelshis Upper Pen ID
Oreilles). ........
The spokanes, which are divided into the
Snyomenei.
Snpoilsshi -ka-eszilnD.
St. Aizui Occur d'Alenes).
Sqoielpi (Kettle Fall Indians or Colvilles).
Oakanagon divided into the Okinakein
and sitakanas..
Very little difference exists in the dialects
of these tribes, but the Cnur d'Alenes have
oc 4bair
(See Father NIengarini's grammar, part
III.)
MULTIPLYING THE MISSIONS.
Steps were now taken to multiply the
missions in order to facilitate the spreading
of the faith among the neighboring tribes,
That of the Ceur d Alenes was established
under Fathers Point and Hoeken in 1874.
(This year brought also reinforcement
| with the return of Father De Smet of sew
eral other Fathers and lay brothers; among
the number were the well-known Father
Louis Vercruyssen and that noted physician,
Father Ravalh.) The same year, under
the care and superintendent of Father
Ravalli, a chapel was built at Colville (af-
terwards, in 1858, regular mission was
established at this point, with Fathers De
Woss and Vercr1yssen as successive resi-
dent superiors.)
The old St. Ignatius Mission, among the
| Kallispells, about thirty miles from Colyille,
was established with Fathers Hoeken and
Ravalli in 1945, and was transferred in
1860, by Father Hoeken, to the sonielem
valley (now part Of the general Flathead
Reserye) among the Upper Pen d 'Oreilles,
and site was here chosen which cannot be
excelled either in a practical view or for
scenic beauty in Montana.
| SCENIC FEATURES.
| The mountains show here really their
characteristics, rising in perpendicular mas
| ses precipitately out Of fine valley, and
showing their granite crests far above the
line of vegetation. They seem to invite
some mortal like Bierdstadt to court them
with the pencil and canvas. Near this
Mission, in wild gorge, are three magni-
ficent cascades that carry the waters of a
mountain lake to the Sonielem river. The
principal one Of these is named the " Eliz-
i abeth Cascade, = in honorof the wife of our
acting Governor, she being the first lady
(who in company with several Sisters OF
Charity had the courage to explore this
| Alpine wilderness in search of the wild and
Incompatible pictures of nature. The two
lesser cascades were named the Two Sisters.
] This Mission, called after the founder, St
/ Tgnatius, is now the headquarters of the
missionaries in the Rocky Mountains, and
i the Rev. Father q. Grassi, the able and
! gentlemanly General Superior of the Noun
tain Missions, holds here for the present his
residence. The fine Church adorning this
place, (and it may be said the first archi
tectural frame building in Montana1, was