Through death will the morrow all endlessly glow—
Tamala! tamala!
Ever and ever;
The morrows will come and the morrows will go,
Tamala! Tamala!
11
Death Plea of Chief Qualchien
This pathetic and futile plea is given in B. F. Manring's Conquest of the Coeur d'Alenes, Spokanes and Palouses. Qualchien was a chief of the Yakimas. He rode voluntarily into the camp of Colonel George Wright. He was decked out in scarlet and at his belt hung an ornamented tomahawk and pistol. With him was his squaw, daughter of the Spokane chief, striking in her beauty and richly attired. He was accompanied by a brave and followed by a hunchback. He presented in general a dashing air. Then came the swift and abject change. He was made captive and sentenced to be hanged, and within fifteen minutes of his appearance in camp he was dead. He was completely overcome by the unexpected and sudden sentence. He prostrated himself upon the ground and then struggled as he was dragged forward, all the while "imploring them most piteously not to hang him. To General Lyon in later years, is attributed the declaration that no more mournful sound was ever heard than those made by Qualchien in begging for his life. Over and over he repeated:"
Copet, six! Copet, six! Wake mameluse nica! Nica potlatch hiya chickamen, hiya cuitan, spose mica wake mameluse nica! Hiyu siwash sulix!
Stop, friends! Stop, friends! Don't kill me! I will give you a lot of money and many horses if you will not kill me! Many Indians will be angry!
