The sun., 1883-08-05

Some OF tho younger members have not been
able to resist altogether the temptation to do
little OF the old raidine; but before long the
Flathead colts will grow up to be Flathead
horses without ever having crossed the Rock
les and so also with the stock OF the Plegans.
The Flatheads are one Of about fifteen Kim
drod tribes that the Jesuits know under the
collective name Of KouspeR, This included tho
Spokanes. tho Cnur dAlcnes. the Pend
d'0reilles the Noz Perc5s. the Ootonagons. the
Iroouois. tho Kootenays and others. In 1889.
the Iroauois. who had been visited by some
Jesuits from Canada. sent down to the nearest
Bishop. who was then In st. Louis. to ask that
moro missionaries should De sent among thom.
This expedition was obliged to enter the coun-
try OF several tribes with whom they were at
war, and the Iroouois messengers were killed
before reaching their destination. A similar
attempt to send to st. Louis was made again
tho following year. and third In 1871.
each with tho same result; but In 1912. the
Iroauois succeeded In getting through to
st. Louis. and Father dc Smet was sent
north and labored among the Bitter Root
tribes until. in 1854. he established tho mission
among tho Flathoads. Those have como moro
completely under the influence Of tho mission
than any other tribe. All the Flatheads are Cath
olics but even among the tribes that were moro
difficult to deal with at first. Father Bandolni
says that thero is decided change. At tho
time Of the trouble with the Nez Perces. tho
few OF that tribe who had professed Christian
ity did not follow the others into the war: and
since then many moro OF this and other tribes
have become Christians and evinced dispo-
sition to take up agriculture and to become
more peaceful
On Sunday. tho 29th there was celebration
OF the feast OF ST. Ignatius at the ocko Mission.
and throughout this weeks journey we have
constantly met small bands OF Indians going to
the festival. They have been Of all tribes. and
some OF them come from q distance Of two
hundred miles. The finest looking mon have
been tho Nez Perces. For this name OF Nez
Perc6 there also seems to be no explanation.
Their noses are not pierced. and 1t Is not
known the custom over was practised among
them. Yet tho name Of Nez Perc6 seems to
have driven out all others. and could not
find that even among themselves they are
called by any name OF a true Indian nature.
At the celebration OF tho feast at the mission.
in addition to the religious ceremonies there
are always races for horses and for men. the
contests for both varying from ono hundred
yards to five miles.
But probably the most vital cause for the
Indians beginning to pay attention to agri-
culture Is tho almost complete extinction
OF the buffalo, Whom those animals were plen-
ty there were two great huntlngs every year.
ono in the spring and one In the fall. and
Father Bandolini says that the excitement
among the Indians as he time approached To
leave for the hunt became SO great that every
thing else seemed forgotten. and even the
Fathers were completely ignored.
But when the annual wandering Of the buf-
| falo stopped. and other sorts OF game became
comparatively scarce. the problem Of self-sup-
port became moro difficult. and tho necessity
| for some other methods than those that were
| formerly sufficient was moro pressing. Then
again. tho increased difficulty Of supporting
| large family Is gradually stamping ou,
| polygamy and bringing these Indians more
| closely to the ordinary ways OF civilized life.
p. ID.