whom had died in the immediate vicinity of the mission,
while the sick were to be found in almost every lodge.
"It was most distressing," wrote Spalding, "to go into a
lodge of some ten or twenty fires, and count twenty or
twenty-five, some in the midst of measles, others in the
last stage of dysentery, in the midst of every kind of filth,
of itself sufficient to cause sickness, with no suitable means
to alleviate their inconceivable sufferings, with perhaps
one well person to look after the wants of two sick ones.
They were dying every da} 7 ; one, two, and sometimes five
in a day, with the dysentery, which generally followed the
measles. Everywhere the sick and dying were pointed to
Jesus, and the well were urged to prepare for death."
In Dr. Whitman s own house three of his adopted children, John, Edward, and one younger, were sick with measles, besides Mr. Sales, Crockett Bewley, and the two half-caste girls. Mrs Osborne was still delicate from a recent confinement, and her babe was sick. This was enough to occupy the attention of one physician, but being sent for to go to the Umatilla, Dr. Whitman rode over to the camp of Sticcas on the same day that Brouillet arrived there, Mr. Spalding being already at one of the other camps visiting the sick. The next day, which was Sunday, the doctor called on Brouillet, remaining but a few moments, and inviting the priest urgently to return the visit when he should be in his vicinity, an invitation which seems to have had some reference to negotiations which were then in progress for the sale of Waiilatpu to the Catholics.
Brouillet, in his Authentic Account, says that Dr. Whit man, during his brief visit appeared "much agitated," and being invited to dine refused, saying he had twenty-five miles to ride to reach home, and he feared he should be late. Spalding remained at Umatilla, and on Monday took supper with the priest, remarking in the course of conversation that Dr. Whitman was disquieted because the Indians were displeased with him on account of the sick-
