of corn and one acre of potatoes, besides peas and barley. A few cattle were early procured from the East, and these multiplying rapidly, and being added to from time to time, soon developed into considerable herds, of which the Indians secured a share. In the fall of 1838 a small party came from the East overland to reinforce the up-river missions. It consisted of Rev. Gushing Eells and wife, Rev. Elkanah Walker and wife, Rev. A. B. Smith and wife, Mr. W. H. Gray and wife, and Mr. G. Rogers.^ Now it was determined to occupy the northernmost of the three mission fields selected by Dr. Parker, the Spokane country, where the families of Walker and Eells established themselves in the spring of 1839.^
Life at the interior missions. Thus some of the tribes of the interior country were at last brought under the influence of a few men and women wholly devoted to their welfare, and tmderstanding with a fair degree of clearness how to guide these barbarians along the path of civilization. The task was stupendous; but the missionaries believed it was not impossible, and laboured with exemplary courage. They preached to the natives as regularly as possible, gathered the children and their elders in the schools, translated portions of the Bible into the Indian language
1 Gray, who came to the Cohimbia in 1836 with Whitman and Spalding, had gone back to secure help, and was married before returning.
2 This place was known as Tsimakane. For a short time a station was also occupied at Kamiah, on Snake River.
