Even The Children Are More Peaceable Than Any Other
Children.
I never heard an angry word among them, nor any
quarrelling; although there were, at least, five hundred of them
together, and continually at play.
With all this quietness of
spirit, they are brave when put to the test; and are an overmatch
for an equal number of Blackfeet."
The foregoing observations, though gathered from Mr. Wyeth as
relative to the Flatheads, apply, in the main, to the Skynses
also. Captain Bonneville, during his sojourn with the latter,
took constant occasion, in conversing with their principal men,
to encourage them in the cultivation of moral and religious
habits; drawing a comparison between their peaceable and
comfortable course of life and that of other tribes, and
attributing it to their superior sense of morality and religion.
He frequently attended their religious services, with his people;
always enjoining on the latter the most reverential deportment;
and he observed that the poor Indians were always pleased to have
the white men present.
The disposition of these tribes is evidently favorable to a
considerable degree of civilization. A few farmers settled among
them might lead them, Captain Bonneville thinks, to till the
earth and cultivate grain; the country of the Skynses and Nez
Perces is admirably adapted for the raising of cattle. A
Christian missionary or two, and some trifling assistance from
government, to protect them from the predatory and warlike
tribes, might lay the foundation of a Christian people in the
midst of the great western wilderness, who would "wear the
Americans near their hearts."
We must not omit to observe, however, in qualification of the
sanctity of this Sabbath in the wilderness, that these tribes who
are all ardently addicted to gambling and horseracing, make
Sunday a peculiar day for recreations of the kind, not deeming
them in any wise out of season. After prayers and pious
ceremonies are over, there is scarce an hour in the day, says
Captain Bonneville, that you do not see several horses racing at
full speed; and in every corner of the camp are groups of
gamblers, ready to stake everything upon the all-absorbing game
of hand. The Indians, says Wyeth, appear to enjoy their
amusements with more zest than the whites. They are great
gamblers; and in proportion to their means, play bolder and bet
higher than white men.
The cultivation of the religious feeling, above noted, among the
savages, has been at times a convenient policy with some of the
more knowing traders; who have derived great credit and influence
among them by being considered "medicine men;" that is, men
gifted with mysterious knowledge. This feeling is also at times
played upon by religious charlatans, who are to be found in
savage as well as civilized life. One of these was noted by
Wyeth, during his sojourn among the Flat-heads. A new great man,
says he, is rising in the camp, who aims at power and sway. He
covers his designs under the ample cloak of religion; inculcating
some new doctrines and ceremonials among those who are more
simple than himself.
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