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Show 104 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. been here at the council so many days. You told us you were going to make this matter about the land all plain to us. I left fifty- seven bundles of oats, sixty rows of corn and pumpkins, and all I had, I left them on the ground to attend this council. They are all destroyed. Two cows with bells on, followed by a band of mixed cattle, with mixed brands on them, came in and destroyed them. I do not tell you this from a bad heart ; I only wanted to tell you what has happened. Mr. MEACHAM. What we have to say to- day we have written down ;, the commissioners have all seen it. Mr. Davenport will read it, and you ( Pambourn) will interpret. We will go slow, and when you want us to stop, to understand better, or to have you ask ques-tions, we will do so. Mr. Davenport then read as follows : Proposition J. For you to name a time when you will vote on the following propositions : Proposition 2. To send out a delegation from each tribe to see whether a home can be found for you, with a view to selling the Umatilla reservation on these terms, viz : Proposition 3. The lands of Umatilla to be sold to the highest bidder for cash, in lots not exceeding 320 acres, out of the proceeds of which shall be erected on the said new reserva-tion a house or houses, one saw- mill, one flour- mill, one school- house, one blacksmith- shop, one carpenter- shop, one saddle and harness shop; one commissary's house, one hospital, and such other buildings as may be necessary, and to open a department farm not exceeding J60 acres, together with such farm- buildings as may be required ; also, to erect for each family one dwelling- house, to be at least 16 by 24 feet, to contain at least three rooms, and with two outside doors and two windows each ; also, to each farmer one set of harness of the value of at least $ 25. one steel plow and attachment, one ax, one hoe, one grain- cradle; also, one 5- inch thimble- skein wagon ; and land shall be allotted to those who wish on the same terms as were agreed upon in the treaty made with Palmer and Stevens. The improvements of each man or head of family shall be appraised and paid over to him or them individually, and the remainder of the proceeds of the sale of their land shall be invested in Government bonds, and the annual interest be expended, under the direction of the President of the Uni-ted States, for your benefit. Mr. MEACHAM. Do you understand this ? Mr. DAVENPORT. To send out a delegation from each tribe to see if a home can be found for you. Mr. MEACHAM. We have told you that we, would not hurry you, but we want you to do some-thing with this proposition. If you are ready to vote to- day, all right ; that suits us. We have no right to argue the proposition with you. It is for you to make up your minds, and express them. We advise you to counsel together like friends and brothers on this proposi-tion, without the interference of any person whatever. We talk thus because the President says ' ' Be careful." Are you ready now to vote ? We will return in three hours. You can taik it over alone till we return, and you can tell us then whether you are ready to vote, or how you vote. If you do not fully understand the paper, Mr. Cree or Mr. Davenport will read it for you at any time. One reason for adjourning is, we do not want to interfere with you in your consultation. You have sense enough to manage your own council. YOUNG CHIEF. You need not wait long; come when you get your dinner. Mr. MEACHAM. When you are ready to vote, send us word. Adjourned for three hours. AFTERNOON COUNCIL, SIXTH DAY, AUGUST 12. By request of the Indians, council met at 4 o'clock. Mr. MEACHAM. We are now ready to hear yon. HOWLISH- WAMPO. You are asking us now as if you were speaking to our hearts. What you have spoken this people have heard. ( The reading of the proposition.) All of them understood what you said. You came to ascertain what is our heart, this people who are living here. We are holding on to our lands. This reservation is marked out tor us. We see it with our hearts and with our eyes. These people ( the whites) who are out here have large herds of stock. They scatter all over the country, and even come upon our reserva-tion. These people who are here ( Indians) have large numbers of horses and cattle. They must spread out all over the reservation to try and raise their stock. It is the same with me. I am trying to raise my stock on this reservation. This reservation that we are on, we all hold it with our bodies and with our souls; and right out here are my father and mother, brothers and sisters, and children, all buried, and I am guarding their graves. That is niy heart, my friend. This reservation, this small piece of land, we look upon it as our mother, as if she were raising us. You come here to ask me for my land. It is like as if we who are Indians were to be sent away and get lost. I look upon all sides. On the outside of the reservation I see your houses. They are good. They have windows in them. You are bringing up your children well ; that is why I say this. You must listen to me. 1 do not want to part with my land. I want to show you white chiefs that that is what my heart is. I do not want you to make my land smaller. If you do, what would my stock i'eed upon ? What is the reason you white men, who live near the reservation, like my land and want to get it? You must not think so. You are not going to get it. I am. telling you this as a |
