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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1886)
THE WEST SHORE. 371 reached the Upper Cascades. Here, word had preceded us, and we were met by an officer, who took ohargo of our persons and property. He playod the part of sher iff in further proceedings. That night he took us to a great lodge made of poles, matting aud bark, and hung overhead with tons of smoked salmon swung to the raf ters. The beating of a drum told whon the quoon's court was opened, aud our sheriff usliorod us iuto hor presence. The great lodge was ablaze with pine kots,' and other pine knots blazed without. Chiefs and war riors were seated around her, acoording to their rank, aud oommon members of the tribe stood beyond aud iu front of her. Queen Pomeray occupied a Boat ooverod with valuable furs. Skins of bear, elk, buffalo, wolves, doer, and many of the finer furs, wore Bcattored around Such surroundings well became the barbario sovoroign. She was a remarkable woman to look at young, and in youth's prime. Her head was drossed with beautiful feathers of strange birds. Hor nock and arms were bare, with strings of sholls and natural gotns of remarkable beauty. Her noble bearing would have distinguished her in any company, but in the midst of this throng of savages she was indeed a queen, a Zenobia, and yet so womanly withal as to impress us most favorably. In complexion and features she differed from the rest the features more Roman and the oomplexion a clear olive. Her immediate attendants were young women, who al ways accompanied her and were almost as attractive. We had little time for observation; Pomeray asked questions that called out tho facts, and after a brief con ference with the sheriff and our witnesses, oourt ad journed until morning. That night we occupied a new bark tent; our possessions were all there and faithful Zip was standing guard " The next morning our case was oenod with more aWiginal formality. Whon the sun was two hours high two officials, clad in rich costumes, came for us, aud we were taken to a newly-erectod building, where the trilm seemed already gathered Pomeray occupied a raised dais covered with skins, and tho chiefs in their order, all dressed iu barbario costumes, rich in color ami strango in material, stood around Eaglo feathers and rare skins shown from many a head they were made iuto caps, in which the heads and tails of the animals played an important part On each side of her stood a gigantio warrior, clad in furs and armed .with strango weapons, each with a great spear in his right hand Four young women, the usual attendant of her ersoii, sat on the step below her and served as foils to her re markable beauty. The scene and surroundings were of wild, barbario splendor, and savage to the extreme. " I must be brief, so I will omit the details of con versation, and say that we were accused of trespassing upon her territory, and dangerously wounding one of her braves. Ned was a splendid worker or fighter, but no talker, so he threw the defense upon me. There was an interpreter who knew just enough to misunderstand half I said. I undertook to interest her by explaining how and where we traveled, to satisfy their curiosity aa why we wanted to climb their Klickitat mountains. My story interested her, evidently, and her tribo crowded near to hear it. I finally wound up with 'Ask Queou Pomeray whether wo would daro deceive her, or harm her or hor peoplo aud thou put ourselves in her power.' Mothing strikes an Indian like actual performance, I had explained that we could havo killed all of the men who followod us, yet wo only wounded ono, to keep them back while we eaoaed. I then asked to havo a rills brought, and set Ned to prove his marksmanship. On tho top limb of a dead pints a long way off, sat a carrion bird; seeing this, and after having calculated the dis tance ho carefully regulated tho sights and fired. The bird fell, aud tho audience sent up a murmur of sur prise. This was all very fine, and no doubt had some effect; but sho sternly reiterated tho question ' Why did these strangers wound ono of my people, who was jieace. fully sailing on the river?' It was useless to say ' they began it' We wore in the minority and had placed our selves iu their powor. There Is a demand for vengeance iu savago natures that no helplessness can allsy. I had studied mediuine, and had somo practice Wore I took to savago wandering, and I suddenly thought thst my art might heal tho wound and thus end tho difficulty. Ned modestly informed the oourt that his friend was a modi oino man, and would like to see and attend tlio wound. This produced a marked effect Court adjourned aud wo went to see tho patient It was short work to probe tho wound aud tnko out tho ball, as it was a fiesh wound and not deep. Taking care to salve tho wound and bind it with lint, we returned to tho waiting oourt There was a sensation when I held up tho ball ami provod by ouo of the few who were allowed to be present that it was the voritablo bullet in tho wound. I hid made a poworful enemy of tho Indian modicitin man, who had, until now, attended the patient He wanted to undo my work, scorned tho story of tho bullet and called mo a liar. Hut I proved all I claimud, ami was left in x session. Determined cot to have his ill will I made a visit to his lodge, in oompany with an Interpreter, and proved an exohango of professional secrets. I gave him somo of tho salve and lint used, also some other simple remedies I could spare, I got him to tell mn somo of his own 'tricks of trsdo.' )ly doing this and promisiug soon to turn my mtient over to his care, and to spesk well of his ability, to his queen, I mads friends with him for a time and prevented the wounded man's life being sacrificed to prove his case, for with him pro fessional pride would slay mtients if necessary to sus tain his fume. As I could not stay with the wounded man, I feared tho jealous Iudiau doctor would do some thing in tny absence to kill my patient, if only to show that I really haul not cured him. " Meantime, a hostile party hail organised, at whose bead was an old warrior who retained all the prejudices known toward whites. Dsy after dsy the oourt m tt to hear the cause argued The closing effort was a speech made by this old man, who was eloquent in his denunci ation of the whiti aud praise of the good old times.