This great California movement was a source of deep interest to Father De Smet. When in St. Louis not a day passed, he tells us, that some one did not come to ask his advice about going thither. He generally discouraged them, or at least advised extreme deliberation in undertaking such a step. He had witnessed so much suffering and disappointment in these migrations that he could not see an intending emigrant depart without -,wishing him to give it up. And now along the great Trail he saw for himself the true meaning of such a journey, in the relics cast away by the emigrants, in the graves of those who had perished by the way, and in many returning parties who had found their hopes of fortune to be only barren dreams.
After striking the Oregon Trail the party marched eastward to Fort Laramie, where they found that the council was to be held in the valley of Horse Creek still thirty miles farther on. The next clay this additional journey was made and the whole party, with the several representatives of the Government and some ten thousand Indians, were gathered together in the plain. The council with its attendant incidents lasted from the 12th to the 23d of September, and was terminated to the satisfaction of all concerned. Great harmony prevailed. All features of the troublesome situation were discussed and earnest effort was made to reach some good result. The principal men among the whites were D. D. Mitchell, Robert Campbell, Thomas Fitzpatrick and Father De Smet, although the latter had no official powers. The treaties formed with the various tribes recognized the right of the whites to cross their lands with roads, etc. ; recompensed the Indians for losses sustained, and provided payments for losses in the future. On the 20th of September an immense quantity of goods arrived for distribution as presents to the Indians and gave them great satisfaction.
Father De Smet attended the council from beginning to end. He used his great influence with the tribes to promote a satisfactory understanding and he labored in-