that they have displayed. The chief does not exercise his authority by command but by persuasion. He never levies taxes; on the contrary, he is so much in the habit of giving away his own property, as well to aid a needy individual as to further the public good, that he is ordinarily one of the poorest in the village. His authority is notwithstanding very great; his wishes are carried out as soon as they are
known; his advice is generally followed. If any one is unreasonably obstinate, the voice of the nation quickly brings
him to order. I know of no government that allows so great personal liberty, and in which there is at the same time so little of anarchy and so much subordination and devotion.
I have still a word to say of some Indian tribes, neighbors of the Flatheads and Pend d'Oreilles. North of these last are found the Kootenais; they live on McGillivray's [Kootenai] river, and are represented to be a very interest ing people. Their language is different from that of their neighbors, being very sonorous and open, free from gutturals. They are clean, honest and affable and about I,ooo in number.
There are several other savage tribes upon the northwest fork of the Columbia, which resemble each other in customs, morals, manners and language. The principal ones are as follows: On the north of the Kootenais are the Carriers, about 4,000 souls; south of these, the Lake Indians, 500 in number, dwelling on Arrow lake. Still farther south are the Kettles, about Goo. West of these are found the Sinpavelist [?], to the number of i,ooo; farther down the Shooswaps, Goo souls; west and northwest, the Okinagans, I,Ioo; and to the north and west are still different nations, of which I have only been able to obtain vague information.
Education.
3 You ask " when you may hope to see me in Belgium again?" I have a very long journey ahead of me, but
3 From a letter of Father De Smet to his niece in February, 1851, written in French.