Clearwater Republican., 1921-09-23

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thrashed them and took their ponie,
whenever they5could. VIII ch was fire.
quent. Pony stealing was one Of
the greatest causes Of shinties ant
combats among the Indians in gen
eral than any other one thing.
1t is likely that the very ear ,
dawn Of the seventeenth century
found the Neg Perces in possession
OF ponies or cayusee as they were
called later. They would breed
rapidly under such favorable cir
cumstances as existed m the gre II
Northwest. Lewis speaks or an IN
dian chief who resided on a branch
of the Salmon river, who had "a
many ponies he could not possib y
count them. An Indians wealth was
computed by the number of ponies
he had. This was in 1905.
There was no rigidly established
civil government over them. They
had as easy resting tribal democracy,
uniting them by common interests and
i.cquiesced in by mutual consent. Sell
dom il ever was the individual COM
PEELED to do more for the common
veal of the nation than what he vol
unteered; and there was no legal
codes to punish him if he did not car
ry 1t out in full. But il certain fac
tiOns, or individuals, persisted in
stacking, or were too remiss in their
duty to the welfare of the tribe, they
were Stunned by others or ostracized
from tribal protection and became out
casts-the recalcitrants becoming
known to US as renegrades.
They had recognized leaders or
chiefs directing them. A chief ac-
Quired his position through his ability
as strategist, counselor or diplomat.
Also for deeds Of valor in battle or in
hunting. The strategist, counselor
and diplomat. were the ones who had
the most far-reaching authority and
power over the rest of the nation and
their power and authority was obeyed
and maintained as long as they obtain
ed and as long as they obtained prop
er results for all. A few failures and
their power waned. 1t was true with
them that nothing succeeded so much
as success. Thus the willy strategist
and adroit had to be men of no mean
ability if they held their jobs
The chiefs Of minor degree were
those who obtained their positions
some valorious deed Bravery
was the greatest attribute an Indian
could have. One of the most accom-
plished warriors who was able to slay
the most in battle and could display
the most scalps as testimony of this
accomplished was created chief
among the bravest of the brave, The
lesser degrees of similar merit were
the killing of grizzly bear Or the
successful theft of bunch of cay
uses single handed. These exploits
gave them the right to change their
fitting the occasion. Thus a
chief might be known among them by
several names. Many of the chiefs
were named for some physical defect
OF pronounced trait of character in
his local community
In any movement affecting the gen.
eral welfare of the nation OF tribe they |
used the referendum and questions
settled in public assembly. One of the
great assembly grounds where big pow |
vows were held was near the present
Iown of Cottonwood on Camas prairie.
Here would the people take council
together lead by their chiefs in open
debate. Concensus of opinion govern
ed their conclusions and the minority |
acluiesced in the deliberations. The |
fear of being branded coward was |
one of the greatest impelling forces |
hat made them unanimous in the |
of an enterprise.
They possessed simple but effect |
we code of signals, signs and unwrit- |
.en messages. Signal fires would no
lify them of impending danger, the |
place for rendezvous, the trail TO take |
etc. Signs along the trail would in |
'orm those following the direction
aiken and place of meeting those pro-
,eding. THESE messages would con- |
sist of sticks and stones SO lain and |
piled that it conveyed a meaning to
hem.
On the highest eminence, 7035 feet. |
On the old Lolo trail is mountain |
known as Indian Postoffice where the |
of great number Of these
messages may still be found. Lewis
and Clark speak of stopping on their
way back to the states in 1906 at a |
pile OF these stones five or six feet |
nigh with pole in the center i. Their
Nez Perce guides made the request |
% stop and smoke. This large pile |
seemed to have religious meaning |
o them. Perhaps in silent cOmmu- !
hon they invoked the Great Manitou |
o attend their enterprise with success |