The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-20
W WEST COAST INDIANS.
THE PECULIARIFTES OF THE WEST
COAST TRIBES.
Who Inhabited the Yerdant slopes
and TImbered Shores Vest Of
the Rockies

treaehery, fights and daring recklessness
ofthe hunters and trappers of John Jac-
oh Astor's party in 1903; the Hudson
Bay company; the Northwest company
and Capt. Bonneville, the facts in the
following will give at least an outline of
the subsequent development of the Pa
cifc Northwest.
The peaceful tribes occupying the fer
tile valleys west of the Rocky Noun
tairs among which were the Nez Perces
| or Pierced Noses, welcomed with opened
arms and unbounded hospitality the in
coming trappers, priests and settlers In
consequence sail vessels brought to the
shores of the Columbia river, by the way
of the Pacific ocean, many immigrants
from New England, attracted to the de-
lightful valleys of the Columbia and
Willamette by the happy climatic con-
ditions which governed this fertile re-
gion, with its streams filed with the
king of fish-the delicious salmon
The Indians inhabiting the coast were
found to be indolent, small in statue,
with large ankles and decayed teeth, and
from years of intercourse with the white
trappers were somewhat practiced in
traficing with white men, perceived the
policy of cultivating the friendship of
civilized neighbors, with whom they
could trade fur for rrinkets, with which
they adorned their person, perferling
accommodation rather than clothes.
Therefore the doughty settlers met with
no resistance from these latter Indians
and with but few disasters from the
horse-ridihg Indians, the stately, hand
some Arabs of the prairies and noun
tains skirting the western slopes of the
Rockies; their peaceful habitations grew
apace.
The frGit trees, the moss covered
buildings and populous cities fourishing
with wealth speak to-day of the achieve
ments which the industrious, temperate
Yankees have accomplished. Here we
find the rivers alive with commerce, the
rich valleys dotted over with cozy farm
houses, and the hill sides covered with
bands of cattle and sheep. Nature is
generous to this land, nurturing it with
winter showers, warm winds and Italian
skies. Fruits grow IN abundance, gi-
gantic pines furnish almost an inexhaust-
ible supply of lumber, while the fuel is
dug from bituminous eoal fields. What
the buffalo once were to the Rocky
Mountains Indians, the salmon was to
the Indians Of this region for many
miles adjacent. In the spring when the
water of the Columbia is at its greatest
height the salmon ascend the river in
numbers positively incalcuable. At this
period the Indians repaired to narrow
strait of the river, now called the DalIes,
and with rudely woven nets gathered in
the fish in great quantities. These they
packed in baskets for winter use.
Salmon fishing is now an extensive
and lucrative business along the Column
bia and in the lawful season tor captur-
ing these fish large number of Indians
and others are actively employed, some
for the copanies while others of more
wealth, furnish themselves with nets
and dispose of the "catch" to canning
factories. These factories are situated at
every
POINT OF VANTAGE
along the river, at rapids and narrows
where the famous fish is easily taken.
The salmon weighing fourteen pounds
will often lose one half of his flesh baf-
Ting with the rapid torrents and jump
ing the abrupt, dashing falls. One writ
er declares that these agile fish viii
bound 80 feet in the air to gain the crest
of a falls in their annual emigration up
stream. The salmon wheel is now sue
cessfulIy operated by the canneries be-
ing erected at a falls the unwary fish
finds in it am easier method of gaining
the top, disregards his capabilities and
becomes the victim of his own inactive
ity.
rHE ONLY ExcEas
INDUCED in the temperate Pacific Nez
Perces, when the settlers first arrived,
appeared to be gambling and horse rae
ing. In gambling they would become
absorbedly infatuated and would often
gamble away their last horse on the
game Possessing splendid horse we
cannot wonder at their love of testing
the ANIMALS mettIe and fleetness. The
preceding pioneer priests had found them
people who loved peace rather than war
and seldom engaged in strife except
when attacked by their predatory neigh
bors, the whilom, blood-thirsty Black
feet, or the artfill hors5-stealers, the
Crows. These worthy God-feanng teach
ers soon succeeding IN formulating wor-
ship, which, composed of Catholic COM
ponents and Indian superstitions, proved
to be pleasing and acceptable to the
Indians, who for many years devoutedly
observed its teaching. Refraining from
all sports OF labor ON the seventh day,
they began early i'm the morning to offer
up prapers 10 the Deity. Throughout
the day the various chiefs would oficiate
at religious meetings at which all attend
ed and reverently listened to these
righteous exhortations, All fact regard
ing the "Blg Hearts" Of the States were
listened To with awe and wonderment
and apparently accepted with faith az
innocent as that of a child's In the
course Of these articles we will have
occasion to speak again Of these remark
able Indians. in q way which shows that
no matter how religious or hospitable
savage may become there are dignities
which, even he cannot possibly contem-