CHAPTER II.
NOTES ON THE BLACKFEET.
Religion in the wilderness - Savagery of the Blackfeet - Hopes for them - Dismal outlook for the buffalo tribes - Subdivisions of the Blackfeet - Piegans learning their prayers- Inequality of sexesSuperstitions in regard to Black-robes - Horse-stealing - Improvement in baptized wives.
Fort Lewis, Sept. 27, 1846.
Reverend and very dear Father in Jesus Christ:'
HAVE been at Fort Lewis three days, and am resting a little from my long and roundabout horseback ride from St. Francis Xavier of the Willamette to this place; in the course of which I had to visit our three mountain Reductions and the Flathead camp on the Yellowstone. If my stay here is very helpful to me, it is not less so to the occupants of the fort, who are for the most part Catholics. I have so arranged my time as to be able to talk with them all successively of the truths of our holy religion; to urge and encourage them to discharge the duties that it prescribes. These poor Canadians and French Creoles often remain ten, twelve or fifteen years in the desert, without priest, without instruction, exposed to the greatest dangers
of body and soul. A great number of those whom I have known have found a tragic end there.
To-day, Sunday, I have offered the holy sacrifice of the mass, followed by an instruction upon the end of man. All the white men of the fort and a large number of Blackfeet were present. Tears of joy and of compunction flowed from the eyes of the Canadian, the Creole and the Spaniard,
Letter XXV, Missions de !'Origon here translated for the first time.