Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/133

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and of the killing of Elijah in California three years pre vious, saying the Cayuses had forgotten all that, and lie hoped the Americans would forget what had occurred at Waiilatpu.

Five Crows suggested some additions to the propositions already offered. Tauitowe said but little, excusing him self by declaring that he was sick and not able to talk, but favored the proposals. Edward Tiloukaikt arose, and dis played a "Catholic Ladder" stained with blood, and re peated what he asserted Dr. Whitman had said a short time before his death: "You see this blood! it is to show you that now because you have the priests among you, the country is going to be covered with blood. You will have nothing now but blood!" He then related the recent events at Waiilatpu in the most detailed and minute man ner, describing the sorrow of the bereaved families in touching language, even of a single member of one family left to weep alone over all the rest who had perished. He repeated the story carried by Joe Lewis to the Indians, that Dr. Whitman was poisoning them. Nothing was avoided or left out, except the names of the murderers; of these he made no mention.

After some time spent in deliberation, a manifesto was agreed upon and dictated to the bishop, as follows:

The principal chiefs of the Cayuses in council assembled state : That a young Indian who understands English, and who slept in Dr. Whitman s room, heard the doctor, his wife, and Mr. Spalding express their desire of possessing the lands and animals of the In dians ; that he stated also that Mr. Spalding said to the doctor : "Hurry giving medicines to the Indians that they may soon die ;" that the same Indian told the Cayuses, " If you do not kill the doctor soon, you will all be dead before spring;" that they buried six Cayuses on Sunday, November twenty-eighth, and three the next day ; that the schoolmaster, Mr. Rogers, stated to them before he died, that the doctor, his wife, and Mr. Spalding poisoned the Indians ; that for several years past they had to deplore the death of their children; and that according to these reports, they were led to believe that the whites had undertaken to kill them all ; and that these were the motives which led them to kill the Americans.

The same chiefs ask