The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-08-25
THE INDIAN MOHAMMED.
"SmoH0llG, the Dreanser," the Prophet
Whom the Bloody Neg Perces Fottotc.'

"~SmoHaLl0. the Dreanter," the Prophet
Whom the Bloody Neg Perces FOtsO'c.'
The original cause of dispute with the
Nez Perces may be said to date from the
treaty which Governor l. S. Stevens, OF
Washington Territory, made with the
Nez Perces and other tribes in June,
1857. At that time Governor Stevens
refused to recognize the hereditary chief
of the Nez Perces, and practically ele-
waited Lawyer, a cunning and tractible
Indian, to the craftsmanship. The Nez
Perces were then and are yet the most
numerous of any of the tribes of that
whole region. They are generally peace
full, and live quietly on the fine and ex-
tensive reservation On the Snake and
Clearwater rivers, near the town of
Lewiston. They cultivate large farms,
have innumerable herds of horses, and
are generally a well-to-do people. But
some of their tribe are "wild" Indians,
and, instead Of believing with the major
ity of their brethren in the policy of a
somewhat civilized life, they prefer to
follow after the traditions and habits of
their savage ancestors. Among the
chiefs who very reluctantly signed the
treaty of 1857 was Joseph, the father of
the chief of the same name who now
heads the outbreak. Old Joseph was
not a Nez Perces. He was a Cayuse
chief. Yet he claimed the Wallowa
valley, and was recognized as a leader of
his people. Some of the Nez Perceswho
were dissatisfied with the treaty, but
more with the conduct of Governor
Stevens elevating Lawyer to the chief
taincy, ~measurably sided with Joseph,
and the disaGtcted of still other tribes
Joined them, so as to swell the number to
somewhat formidable numbers. Before
that time a very cunning Indian had
begun to evolve a new faith or supersti-
ton among the Indians. He was known
as Smohalla, or "The Dreamer" He
had been taught by missionaries, and he
turned what he had learned to account
in a way he had never intended or
expected. @; all the bible-lessons, the
one he most and particularly set store by
is that which is contained in Judges vi.
and vii. as to Gideon and his band,
reduced from many thousands to only
three hundred, overcoming the INDIAN
ties. Smohalla preached to his tribe the
| doctrine he derived from the text, and
inspired them to believe that, although
the whites or Midianites, were powerful
in numbers, yet could the Lords own
people, Gideon's band of three hundred
the Indians MISUNDERSTANDING over
them and drive them from the land.
During the Indian war of 1858, when
the late GeneralWright severely whipped
the Indians of that upper country, and
obliged them to sue for peace, he put a
stop to Smohalla's preachings and inlu-
ence by keeping him a close prisoner.
But after General (or Colonel, as he was
then) Wright made peace, he allowed the
mischievous dreamer" his liberty, on
condition that he should cease his efforts
to propagate his peculiar incendiary doc
trine among the Indians and until
General Wright was called away from
there, during our own civil war, Smo-
halla found it advisable to refrain from
openly seeking converts.-San Francisco
Examiner.