The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-07-12
THE NOBLE NEZ-PERCEs.
Causes OF the Trouble In IdahO-The GE.
dians and Their EEozne-Character
OF the Troublesome Eez-
Pereea.


Perees.
The Nez Perces Indians occupy a re-
serVatiOn uncOmmOniy rich in timber,
hunting, tilling, and grazing lands, even
for an Indian reserve, which is generally
q small paradise, the choicest region
owned by the government. It contains
in the neighborhoOd of TAG, 65I acres, and
is situated in Idaho, between and en-
braclng the Clearwater and Salmon
rivers. The reservation is surrounded
by Indian tribes which cherish an ancient
hatred of the Nez Perces, who a few
years ago yanquished the encroaching
sioux and effectually kept at a respectful
distance the Flatheads, Snakes, or Sho-
shones, and the formidable Blackfeet and
Crows, not to mention other smaller
tribes. One of the causes for the hatred
given by the Nez Perces occurred many
years since. Those who have read Wash
ington Irving's entertaining narrative,
" Bonneville's Adventures" will remem-
Der the many narrow escapes the coura-
geous captain had from predatory bands
Of Indians in his famous passage of the
Indian country from the Missouri from
tier to Astoria at the mouth Of the Col
umbia river, forty years or more ago.
The Nez Perces were very friendly to
Capt. BonneVille's command, and paid
them many graceful attentions. They
fed them when they were at the point of
starvation, and actually gave them
horses and a guide when they resumed
their march across mountain and plain,
prairie and chasm. The neighboring
tribes have never forgiven the Nez Perces
for aiding and abetting the encroaching
march of the white men, and hate them
foI it to this day, though the Nez Perces
made themselves obnoxious in other
ways. They were not wanting in par
barity, and could give lessons in roasting
captives at the stake, the tear-'em-t0-
pieces trick, and other diversions. Of
late years they have apparently recovered
from their weakness for the pale-face
and have made trouble for the govern
ment on various occasions but whatever
diabOlism they may commit within their
reservation, they are securely Gagged
within its boundaries and there is no
| fear OF their escaping, for to do so would
be Drawing the lions jaws. They are
surrounded by their enemies of yOre
! On the south are the BannOcks and Sho-
| shones; on the east and north, Bannocks,
| Flatheads, and Blackfeet; while on the
wooded praires to the west, in Washing
| ton territory, roam the PigchOus and
| Walla Wallas. The reservation con-
| tains about from three thousand to three
thousand five hundred fine specimens of
the American Indian. Their phvsi-
ognomy is marked by the Roman nose
the intalible indicator of courage, resolu-
ton, and tribular intelligence, - large
eyes and oval face (fat, stolid, faces, with
pug noses, are rare among them, and
high foreheads. In stature they are large
and symmetrical, and are athletic and
proficient in acrobatic sports. They are
excellent equestrians, and are good war
riors. Their dress is homogeneous, con-
sisting of the Caucasian hat, shirt and
coat, and the Indian breechclout, leg
| gings, and moccasins. Their mode of
living is hunting, fishing, and raising
vegetables, all the drudgery and mental
labor being performed Dy the squaws, in
| conformity with the recognized ancient
| Indians custom. The Nez Perces tribe
is divided and subdivided into many
ramifcations, of one family each. Every
| family-cousins, brothers, parents, grand
| parents, etc.-has a separate camp gov
| erned by small chief, designated Coech-
cochemeowhat, which signifies the local
or family chief. The Ceochcochemeo-
what in turn is subservient to the chief
regnant of the Nez Perces tribe, a crafty
old fellow very appositely named
! lawyer. This shrewd old varlet is con-
sidered wonderful man by his tribe, as
he can speak tolerable English, and &C
tually has been to Washington and had
q heap talk with the great father. The
Nez Perces belonged to the Sahaptin
family and called themselves Numepo.
The two words, Nez Perces, means
"piercede nose" But this tribe has never
committed that mutilatiOn. The Paloeses
and Walla Wallas are cognate tribes
They made treaty of peace which they
adhered to for years. Bonneville's favor
able impressions of them in 1882 led to
the establishment of mission under the
American board in 1886, when the tribe
numbered four thousand. A school was
founded, laws made, and agriculture
attempted, but the mission was suspended
in 1917, after the murder of Rev. Mr..
Whitman by the Cayuses. In 1857 only
fifty acres were under cultivation. The
prevailing portion Of the tribe remained
friendly in the Oregon Indian war OF
1855, and performed good service in
saving the lives of Gov. Stevens and
others, and covering Col Steptoe's re-
treat. The sentiment of the tribe at
that time is shown by the answer of the
chief to Col. Wright's question as to
| WAldG lllSy WdAOCOs L cave, 1lOWss anu
schools" In 1854 a treaty was made,
disposing of part of their land, but por-
ton of the tribe never agreed TO the par
titiOn and the Treaty Nez Perces Z"
alone went on to the reservation. In
1859 gold WAS discovered, and the influx
of white and Chinese miners led them
into drunkenness and disorder. The best
land in the section is said to be contained
in the Lapwai reservation. This and
| the Kamiah reservation contain in the
aggr sgate 1875 square miles, in 1874 the
Methodists had revived the mission, and
there were 1850 Indians and $50 on
| small farms outside the boundaries. A
stone church had been erected, 5000
acres were under cultivation, and the
property in hofses and cattle was esti-
/ mated at $136, $50. No better evidence
of the progress of the Nez Perces need be
given than the fact that school-books
and the New Testament have been printed
in their language.
The reservation lies in Nez Perces and
Shoshone counties, Idaho. Camas prairie,
a very rich and desirable expanse OF
country, being the nucleus of the reser-
walton. The well-knOwn tract is situated
on the Salmon river, about sixty miles
south of Lewiston, and is about forty
miles WlOe. III suHul0I IL 10 COFSIeu
with vast herds of cattle driven there to
fatten on its luxuriant heritage. 1t is
occupied by a few ranches, with an
occasional small farm. Its fertility OF
soil and excellence as a cattle range Is
attracting many settlers and is rapidly
becoming settled. This is one of the
causes of the present outbreak, as the
Indians resent this intrusion. The Sal
mon river the southern boundary of the
reservation, has its source in the Salmon
river mountains, in central Idaho, and
after running north veers to the north