Year: 1866




LSUMBER THREE. a


The caravan reached their Rendezvous on
Greene river, the Ist of july, and the Missiona-
ries found a large No. Of the Plat Head Nez
Perces Indians on the lookout for teachers, and
learned from them that Mr.. Lee bad passed
their countries aud gone on to the katndnas kOos
(salt water). They learned that these we're the
tribes who had sent three years before for the
book Of God and teachers. They found these
Indians much grieved that Mr.. Lee had passed
by them. They saw At once the hand Of God
pointing to these tribes their future mission
field. They determined that while Mr.. Parker
! should proceed with the Nez Perces and Flat
Head Indians to their eouutFies Una'visit, also,
the English Trading Posts on the Columbia, and
return to meet Doctor Whitman and party at
that Rendezvous the next year. the Doctor
should return at once to the States, by the
same company, report to the Mission Board, and
/ if possible obtain associates during the winter,
aRd 50 gain yeaf, aud pIttIng themselves
der protection of the American Fur Company,
according to promises already given, cross the
mountains the next year and meet Mr.. Parker at
the Rendezvous, who after examining heIndian
countries and the trading posts, would be able
to report as to the prospect Of tbe proposed mis-
sion field, the number aud character ct the Ma
tions, the character of the unknown country its
climate, its soil, the character of the English
Fur Traders, whether Missionaries could count
upon their friendship or opposition, whether
bread could be raised and supplies of clothing
had, and whether we would be Compelled to
depend on wild game and skins.


The Nez Perces, to make sure work and not
be disappointed a. gain, sent two of their boys, of
about 4 years Of age, with Doctor Whitman as
kind Of hostages for his sure return next year.
The Doctor and the Indian boys reached the
States in the fail with the Fur Company and rt-
ceiyed the kindest regards from the proprietors
of the Company, at St Louis and their renewed
assurances that they would afford him and his
associates the next year, every protection ana
facility in their power for the invaluable SerYi-
ces he had rendered to their Company to and
from the mountains. He might depend upon
their steamer to convey his ladies aud baggage
to Council Bluffs, and their caravan to convey
them to Green River and their hunters to fur.
nish daily food from the Buffalo bands.


On receiving the Doctors Report, the Ameri-
eau Board resolved at once to send Missionaries
to the Nez Perces and Flat Head Nations and ap-
piled Immediately to the several young ladies
Who had offered themselves to the Board for the
work Of missions in the Foreign Field But
while young men enough could be obtained to
undertake journey across the continent, not
young lady could be found willing to face4he
Rocky mountains and to risk the vast unknown
beyond. The Board aud the Doctor then sp-
pleftO several settled pastors who had signi-
hedtheir Willingness to enter the Foreign Field
hut with no better success. Not married or
unmarried woman could be found willing to
face the hazards OF that gigantic undertaking.
Any other part of the world, the Isles of the
distant seas, the dark mountains of KOordistan
the crowded millions of China, the death pools
Of the Seuagill, anywhere else in the known
world, but the unknown Northwest coast
where the foot Of white women had never
yet trod. None could be found Of sufficient
1.1..-. 4


great work, but The early devoted Miss Prentiss,
the intended wife of Doctor Whitmal but the
Doctor could not commence this desirable mis-
sion without ordained missionary and his
wife. The winter was now far gone and the
Doctor was about to give up his mission, when
on arriving in Pittsburgh n. Y, my own dear
home, lit does my soul good to write that
name, after being dogged and hunted by the
blood bounds and carotes of Fanaticsm for so
long time in this country and to think our place
in this world so like the Kingdom of Heayen) he
learped Of the deep and early piety of my angel
wife aud was told if any body would do so, she
would undertake the journey, could the subject
be laid before her But myself and wife were
appointed and on our way to the Usage Nation
as Missionaries. The Doctor Immediately got
permission of the American Board for us to
change our destination if we should see fit. He
Immediately made himself known to us, and
bis object. We turned aside iltO Inn to con-
slider the subject. The Doctor said this was his
last hope. If we, like the very many others
who had been solicited, should decline the mis-
sion to the Nez Perces and Flat Head Indians.
beyond the Rocky mountains, the undertaking
must be abandoned, at least for another year
That was most fearful moment in the journey
of my life. | had said in my Academic lectures
on Temperance ''that money enough was ex-
pended for Rum every year to build second
North American Republic on the coasts of the
Pacific Bat that was the Republic of fancy,
eight years before. Now the very like was a
reality. stupcudous question, taking in the
whole of life and of another life, more to me
than my own, to be decided in twenty minutes.
asked the Doctor many questions concerning
the distance, the probable time, of the food, and
the dangers. He knew nothing CT the Hudson
Bay Company, or of the vast region beyond the
Rocky mountains. In the first place, we must
make up minds to do without bread through
out the whole journey, and until we could raise
it from quart of seed, to be taken with us.-N
Two years might be spent in reaching our des-
tinatioR, and the winters be passed in the SHOWS
of the Rocky mountains and among mountain
trappers; the horse aud mule our. sole depend
ence for conveyance, and to gather their own
subsistence the whole route by grazing a few
minutes morning noon and evening; to be driv-
en- in every nigh: and guarded by a regular
watch with sleepless vigilance. The American
Fur Company had cheeTfully agreed to convey
our ladies and effects with their own goods in
their steamer to Council Bluffs, and had offered
US the protection of their caravan to the noun
tains, and this to be under constant guard day
aud night The whole distance lay through
wild countries inhabited by savage tribes con-
stanty at war with each other and many of
them at war with whites. The innumerabe
rivers to be swan, forded RATED bundles
of buil-rushes; liable to be oYertakeh at any
time by terrific thunder and hail storms, against
which the strongest tent is only so much paper.
Men had been knocked down in these hail
storms, aud one man had been knocked down
three times in storm in the mountains.-
These storms sometimes filed the dry gulches
in few minutes with raging, impossible tor
rents; much of the way through broiing sand
deserts covered with wormwood, without tree
or green thing to relieve the eye, except the
small acre of grass the streams of water or
springs, scarcely enough, often for camps; our
daily food 70 be asked of Gnd and nhtainad by.