Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
THE NEE PERCES AMAZONS
A PECULIAR SETTLEMENT ON AN
 INDIAN RESERVATION.


 All the Affairs of Everyday Life
 Sharp Business Females. ..
 A letter from Lewiston, Idaho, to the San Francisco CaU, says: A few days since I accepted an invitation from all official to accompany him on a business trip to one of the most peculiar settle ments on tine Nez Perces Indian reserva- tion. The undertaking necessitated a horseback ride of thirty miles: but when told that the vicinage to be vi,ited was that notorious one managed almost exclu- sively by the sYuaws, l hesitated no longer. The ground was white with frost and the east wind was sharp enough to make our noses red, as the galloping ponies hurried us along the road before the sun appeared above the gray, grass covered hills that formed the near hori- zon. 5
 The valley of Lapwai is workable modern Eden. Though 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean, it is only a2o feet above the level of the sea. The ther- mometer seldom registers as low as zero. The high walls protect the valley from windstorms and the, snowfall is very light. The soil is rich sandy loam, but contrary to the usual order of things, it is dry and requires irrigation, while the high table-land on either side is moist from natural sources. The creek is only a succession of pearly ripples and clear. shady pools, that make one look for and expect to see the flashing sides of the speckled trout. It affords the water supply for the small farms and little ditches run through every field. Rude fences of logs, sticks and stones encircle nearly all the rich bottom land. Cross fences divide the whole into as many fields as there are family divisions of the tribe, and a group of wickiups, tents, or old dingY cabins, on some sunny slope near the running water, afford shelter for numerous progeny of dusky loungers on each subdivi ion. A picture of one of these holdings will apply to every other one. The same tumble down fences, forsaken looking, un- painted old buildings, half buried in rank weeds; half do en squaws Of all ages, sitting in the fashion of the Tulk on the sandy ground in the sun.
 As we rode quietly past these simple homes two young sq' avs rode past us. Their gaudily caparisoned horses were rearing and plunging, while they laughed and chatted, seemingly unconcerned. They filled my ideal of what Pocahon- tas might have looked. On the other hand, there is no specimen of fallen hu. manity more ab iect than the Indian who has given up the chase of the plains fo1 the ways of civilization. We met them on the road to the city, at work at family washing, or other odd jobs, for scanty ruhJoh +hoVy yu11,1 cron1 fnv drink if possible. Their c.othing was filthy rags, and their every feature an ex- pression of misery, as they jogged along bestrid9 their miserable ponies.
 There are comparatively few of these outt asts connected with the Neg Perces tribe. They have been associated with the whites for fifty years, but have not succumbed to vices as is usually the GUS. tom when the races intermingle. The richness of the country selected as their home, the .best reserve of game in the mountains near by, and the fi>h in the streams have supplied the wants of na- ture so fully that they have been inde- pendent. Joseph's braves were bred amid these surroundings. Their cun- ming, their prowess, their powers of en. durance surprised the world at large and terrorized Idaho.
 We saw women of all ages everywhere. They worked in the fields, carried wood from the grove by the creek, on their broad backs, for winter use, and packed the wheat to mill on the overbu dened ponies. Nearly all the young men be- came entangled in the complications that led to the war of 1877, and either fell in battle, were banished with their chief or scattered among sympathizng tribes on both sides of the Rocky Mountains to avoid prosecution by the civil autaori- ties. The females shoot the bear and elk, herd and brand the stock an attend to all the business of the household. Their cattle and horses, of which some the ranges, ahd the calves are caught and not corraled. Their haurts are far back from the settlements on the broad plateau where both horses and cattle live undis- turbed and die of old age. Wild horses in large numbers without brands or own CTS roam that boundless expanse.
 A cloud of white dust extending from the rim of the high mountain on the east of us far down toward the level fairly darkened the sun. A rumblipg sound was heard, the earth seemed to trem ble, and then 500 pntfing, pant ing horses came running at furi- ous speed down the steep sloop. When they reached the level they began to spread out in all directions. A young Indian woman mounted on a foaming, rearing horse, that was singing the white froth as he tossed his head, came dashing out of the binding dust around the surg ing mass, and turned toward the open corral by gracefully throwing out the coils of long riata. The horses once in the corral were quiet but crowded to- gether, and each tried to hide his head behind his companions. They were dri CT in for sale. Droyers were discussing prices and qualities, with the aid of ar interpreter, with three sisters They were the sole owners of the herd, and my es cort informed me that this family had sold over $15, 900 worth of stock within five years. A di pute arose about the age of mare while we were looking on One of the robust sis ters stepped for ward, and letting her blanket fall from her shoulders, and being in double fold from her Eelt, picked up a riata, cut the animal off from the crowd and lassoed her by both fore feet, throwing her fiat on the ground. The frightened beas> struggled hard to gain her feet, but by deyterous manipulations of the rope the feminine vaquero kept her on her side till her teeth were examined and the dis pute settled.