A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic InformationGray, W. H. (William Henry)
History
A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic Information
Gray, W. H. (William Henry)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Oregon; Oregon Territory -- History
is part Indian, though the wife of Governor McLaughlin, had a singularly
happy influence, and opened the way for expressions on the other side,
from which there had not hitherto been a sentence uttered.
First arose Five Crows, a wealthy chief of forty-five, neatly attired in
English costume. He stepped gravely but modestly forward to the table,
remarking: "It does not become me to speak first; I am but a youth, as
yet, when compared with many of these, my fathers; but my feelings urge
me to arise and say what I am about to utter in a very few words. I am
glad the chief has come; I have listened to what has been said; have
great hopes that brighter days are before us, because I see all the
whites united in this matter; we have much wanted something; hardly
knew what; been groping and feeling for it in confusion and darkness.
Here it is. Do we see it, and shall we accept it?"
Soon the Bloody Chief (not less than ninety years old) arose, and said:
"I speak to-day; perhaps to-morrow I die. I am the oldest chief of the
tribe; was the high chief when your great brothers, Lewis and Clarke,
visited this country; they visited me, and honored me with their
friendship and counsel. I showed them my numerous wounds received in
bloody battle with the Snakes; they told me it was not good, it was
better to be at peace; gave me a flag of truce; I held it up high; we
met and talked, but never fought again. Clarke pointed to this day, to
you, and this occasion; we have long waited in expectation; sent three
of our sons to Red River school to prepare for it; two of them sleep
with their fathers; the other is here, and can be ears, mouth, and pen
for us. I can say no more; I am quickly tired; my voice and limbs
tremble. I am glad I live to see you and this day, but I shall soon be
still and quiet in death."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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