with a band of several hundred in number, and that the wholo party assembled every evening and morning for prayer, the exercises being conducted by one of themselres in their own language. He stated that on hortation and worship."

Sunday they assembled for ex superintendent and three agents were appointed for Indian serviee in Oregon. Treatics were negotiated with some of the tribes, but they were not ratified, and in 1853 there was, in consequence, a wide-sprcad dissatisfaction among all the Indians in the region. "They have become distrust- ful of all promises made them by the United States," says the Oregon supcrintendent, "and believe the design of the Govern- ment is to defer doing anything for them till they have wasted away. The settlement of the whites on the tracts which they regarded as secured to them by solemn treaty stipulations, ro- sults in frequent misunderstandings betwcon them and tho settlers, and 0ecasions and angmeuts bitter animosities and re sontments. I am in almost daily reccipt of compłaints and pe- titions for a redress of wrongs from both partics."

Governor Stevens, of Washington Territory, in charge of the Northern Pacific Railroad Exploratious and Survey, wrote, this In 1851 a year, "These hithcrto neglected tribes, whose progress from the wild wandercrs of the plains to kind and hospitable neigh- hors is personally known to you, are entitled, by every consid eration of justice and humanity, to the fatherly Government."

In Governor Stevens's report is to be found a comprehensive and intelligible acconnt of all the Indian tribes in Oregon and Washington Territory. The greater part of the Nez Percés' country was now within the limits of Washington Territory, only a few bands remaining in Oregon. They to number at least eighteen hundred, and were said to be a "rich and powerful tribe, owning many horses." Every year they erosscd the mountains to hunt buffalo on the plains of the Missouri care of the were estimated