112 T. W. DAVENPORT. is no red man devoid of a belief in a future state of existence, and, consequently, no opportunity is afforded for truthful comparison. And differing, too, from believers in orthodoxy, the unconverted aborigine has no permanent hell, and pictures to himself a heaven wherein his chief delights on earth are to be more enjoyable and extended. The Catholics had been more successful in proselyting among the three tribes than other denominations, and Father Mesplie, in his occasional visits, had quite large meetings. Howlish Wampo and his numerous relatives were members of Mesplie 's church, and being wealthy, contributed much to the cause of his religion. Old Stickas was one of Dr. Whit- man's converts, and of course a Presbyterian, of whom ex- Senator Nesrnith said, "If there ever was an Indian who could be said to have a proper conception of the Christian re- ligion, I think Stickas is the one." At the time of my agency, Stickas was quite old, though not at all in a mental decline, and it was his custom to visit my house, seemingly with no other purpose than to talk upon his favorite subject, the duties of Christians and the joys of a future state. Dr. Whitman must have taught him through an interpreter, as Stickas could not speak English and but a few words of Chinook, which was understood by all the coast tribes and quite commonly spoken by the early white immi- grants to the Northwest Coast. The Walla Walla dialect was the one used by the agency Indians, as all the three tribes were conversant with it ; the Cayuse language, quite different from the other, having become a dead language to the younger members of the Cayuses. Without undervaluing the efficacy of Dr. Whitman's teach- ings and example, I should say, from an outside inspection of Stickas, that nature did the principal part in Nesmith 's unique aboriginal Christian. Evidently he was a pure-blood Indian, but a very rare specimen of his race; not, however, on account of extraordinary force or fervor, although he did not lark in physical proportions and when young was, no doubt,
