weave into their habits of life.[1] Every act of the missionaries was criticised. When Whitman, who was endeavoring to break up the custom of going to war, exhibited his disapprobation by refusing to shake hands with an offender, the accidental death of that young warrior was imputed to him,[2] and though they pretended to be convinced to the contrary, their hearts were secretly bitter toward Whitman, whose 'evil eye' they were willing to believe had worked them harm.
It was unfortunate that at this juncture so many strangers had been allowed to gather at the mission, confirming the suspicion of the Cayuses that the Americans intended to settle in their country without first treating for their lands: unfortunate because it gave weight to a rumor circulated among them by one Joe Lewis, a half-breed, who was employed about the mission, that Doctor and Mrs Whitman were conspiring to exterminate them by poison, in order to come into possession of their lands for themselves and their countrymen[3]—a rumor which was strengthened by the
- ↑ Palmer relates that three Delawares came and settled among the Nez Percés. One of them, named Tom Hill, succeeded in persuading about a hundred lodges to acknowledge him as their chief by telling them that they then could have as many wives as they chose; that it was not wrong to steal, only wrong to be detected in it, and that what the missionaries taught was false. Journal, 129.
- ↑ This man was a half Nez Percé, half Cayuse, son of a Nez Percé often called Le Grande. Whitman refused to take him by the hand on account of some quarrel and misconduct at the Dalles; perhaps he was in the party who killed Sheppard. However that was, the young man died that night, being choked by a piece of dried buffalo-meat. Thereupon an accusation was brought against the doctor. Mrs Whitman endeavored to regain the confidence of the natives by giving a 'feast for the dead,' Le Grande and Peupeumoxmox being present and professing continued regard. Whether their sentiments were genuine admits of doubt, but there was a 'villain of an Indian called Tamsucky who fomented discontent, and threatened Whitman that he would be killed.' Tolmie's Hist. Puget Sound, MS., 27. Palmer says that Whitman regarded Tamsucky as a good Indian; and Palmer left his horses with him during the winter of 1845–6. He was called Aliquot by the white people. When Palmer asked him to name his reward for keeping the horses, he asked for some scarlet velvet, and other articles of adornment, which Palmer brought and gave to Whitman when he met him on the Umatilla. Palmer's Wagon Train, MS., 32–4.
- ↑ This story of Joe Lewis is given by several witnesses. One of these, William Craig of Lapwai, no one would dispute. He says: 'A messenger came there [to Mr Spalding's station] from the Cayuses, and the Indians, when
