I16 A History of the Pacific Northwest
West, and since a few persons like Hall J. Kelley had already been writing about the Oregon Indians in connection with plans for settling that country, it is not strange, but perfectly natural, that men should at last undertake to Christianize the tribes living on the Pacific coast. An incident which occurred probably in 1 83 1 was sufficient to start the first missionaries across the mountains. As the story goes, the nations of the upper Columbia had learned from British traders something about the white man's religion. Wishing to know more, the Nez Perces, or Nez Perces and Flatheads, sent four of their leading men to St. Louis to see General Clark, whom old men remembered as having once visited their country, either to inquire about "The Book of Heaven," as the Protestants maintain, or to ask for priests, as the Catholics say. These Indians, setting out on their strange and interesting mission, crossed the mountains and the plains in safety and reached St. Louis, where they were kindly received by General Clark. Two of them died while in the city. The remaining two started for their own country in spring, but one died before reaching the mountains.
Beginnings of the Willamette mission. The story of these four Indians, and their long journey to the East in search of spiritual guidance, was soon published in the religious papers and created the keenest interest. First to respond to the call for teachers was the Methodist denomination, which in 1833 commissioned Rev, Jason Lee to begin work among the Flat
