CHAPTER IV.
PEACE WITH THE OREGON INDIANS.
Causes of war - Hostility of Kamiakin - Lies circulated - Approach of troops - The first blow - The Ceeur d'Alene country - De Smet met by Father Gazzoli - Reaches Sacred Heart Mission and remains until spring - Indians fond of work - Honesty of Kootenais - Across deep snow to Bitter Root valley - Flatheads still keep the faith - Escorts chiefs to Fort Vancouver for interview with officials.
it HAVE spoken of the prisoners of war made among the Cceur d'Alenes by the United States troops. The following are the causes of the war
For some years past, the Indians had given signs of uneasiness relative to the future invasion of their lands by the whites. The treaties negotiated by Governor Stevens, and the wars that had followed, had provoked these fears. They demanded urgently of the Governor that the troops should respect the portion of country included between the Columbia, Snake river and the Rocky Mountains; they proposed to remain neutral, and desired to have this territory respected by both parties. They seemed disposed to renounce invasion; but this did not suit the chiefs Kamiakin, Telgawee and consorts, who, at the time of the war between the Yakimas and Cayuses, had tried every means to draw the Cceur d'Alenes into the trouble on their side. The Catholic missionaries of the country used their influence to restrain them, and though they were sometimes accused of siding with the Americans against the Indians, they succeeded in holding their people in. When the Yakimas, counseled by Father Pandosy, had made their peace, in spite of Kamiakin, and the military post of Simcoe had been established, Kamiakin took refuge among his own men, the Palooses. Tinewe, Telgawee and a number of other Cayuse, Yakima and Walla Walla refugees were there also.