about their raiment; their manners are of great simplicity. It is a warm land, the climate is favorable, and the soil very well suited to cultivation.
Proceeding toward the north, one comes to the Nez Perces. There are places in their country very fertile and well adapted to agriculture; also vast and rich grazing lands. These Indians own a great number of horses; some
have as many as 500 or Goo. The nation of the Nez Perces contains near 2,500 inhabitants. Though there are Protestant ministers among them, from reports which they themselves have made, as well as conversations I have had with several of the chiefs, it is clear that they would be charmed to have Catholic missionaries.
On the west of the Nez Perces are the Cayuses, decent, peaceable and hospitable. There are upward of 2,000 Of them. Their wealth, like that of the Nez Perces, consists in horses, but of the best stock in the mountains. A great part of their territory is very fertile, and produces in great abundance a certain root called Kammache,2 whereof they make bread, and which, with fish and game, forms their habitual fare.
The Walla Wallas dwell upon the river of the same name, one of the tributaries of the Columbia, and their country also extends along that river. They number about 500. Their character, customs and habits differ in no respect from those of the savages just named.
The Paloos tribe belongs to the nation of the Nez Perces and resembles them in all respects. It inhabits the borders of the Nez Perces and Pavilion rivers. There are scarce 300 of them.
The four nations that I have just named speak the same tongue, with slight differences of dialect.
Northwest of the Palooses is found the nation of the Spokans. They are nearly Boo persons. Several small tribes, who may be considered as belonging to the same
2 Camas (camassia esculenta).