The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-20
INDIAN SUPERSTITION.
They Refuse TO Tranlc in Land Because or
the Dust Are They Made.

the Dust Are They Made.
IJmafilla letter to the Portland ore
gonian saws In answer TO request made
Inv delegation of Columbia-R Indians
n tho commander at Fort Walla Walla for
a con ference where they might be permit
ted To state their grievances and get in
formatiop and advice concerning the loca-
tion Of their land by the whites, Captain
IIpham. of the First cavalry, by appoint
ment. met q delegation on Saturday,
March 18th. The delegation consist
cd of some forty OF the principal
men of the bands. among them seven
chiefs or sub-chiefS of bands-yiz., Boscap-
pa. Mool Mool. Wisbnotta. Stock, Siskiou.
and Blind Jim. They were especially
gotten up for the occasion, and although
they toll not. neither do they spin, yet Sol
ONION in all his glory was not arrayed like
one OF them. Jehu Switzler. prominent
stock man OF Umatila, acted as interpre-
ter. Their troubles were, in addition to
the jumping Of the ranch OF Siskiou, near
Long Island, by John Taylor, the locating
OF their old stamping-ground directly op-
poste the town OF Umatilla by the proprl-
etors OF the Umatilla ferry, Beavert ~
Boyd. The red man In both instances has
notice TO vacate the premises and seek for
greener fields and pastures new. The
claim of the ferrymen includes their
burial-grounds, and the Indians very natu-
rally object TO having it turned into gar
den-patch for the avaricious white man.
Captain Upham read them the law peril
nent to their case, which, through Mr..
Swilzler, was made perfectly plain and UNI
derstood by them all. In orOer to hold
land it was necessary to sever their tribal
relations, declare their intentions to be-
come citizens, and then file on the land in
every respect as a white man. As the
whites were rapidly settling up the land,
he urged upon them the necessity OF at
tending TO this at once il they wished to
secure homes for themselves and families;
otherwise they would be forced in the near
future to live upon the reservation, as no
land would be left them.
Boscappa answered that buying and
selling land was, among Indians, violating
their religion. The - Sahale Tyee' the
supreme chief made them from the dust OF
the earth, and after the few years OF weary
wandering on the surface they returned to
its bosom and again mingled with and be-
came part and parcel of the land which the
white man buys and sells. Dealing in
land, in their estimation, is just The same
as dealing in their own people. On being
asked whether, in the event those parties
who are at present causing them trouble
could he induced to vacate. they would
take the necessary steps TO secure 1t by
law, they repeated that their religion for
babe them TO deal in the land. that God
made the land and it was free for all, and
that if one location did not suit them they
Il, u.g.f,s -, hnaE al
lahe.'
The settlers are fast filing up their com-
try between the Yakima and Columbia
rivers and crowding in on their ranges.
Their chief occupation-that OF raising
horses-will soon be gone for lack OF room.
Unless they can be induced to overcome
their religious scruples as regards the traf-
tic in land, il is only question OF time
and a very short time at that-when their
only fOothold viii be the reservation. The
Indians were dissatisfied with the result
OF the conference, they having expected to
meet General Miles. They had the law
fully explained, and their course OF pro-
ceedIng plainly set before them il they wish
cd TO procure land, which ought to amount
to the same coming from General Miles or
Captain Upham. II was remarked by
MOOT MOOt tuut ne was diiuld ilidJ IilS iaiu
question would make trouble, or, literally
interpreted, the ground would rise up
and make bodily harm between the whites
and the Indians. The various bands ill.,
terested number about 400-not sufficient
number to cause any serious trouble,
unless they are joined by other bands. OF
whom no doubt there are always some
ready for a raid for the sake of plumber,
not that they have any grievances or wrong
10 right.