The proud mother of these babies brought them 70 miles by canoe when she heard that she would be able to have their pictures taken. She was a bit unusual in that the Indians are still rather superstitious about having their pictures taken - but so are twins unusual among the Indians. You will note the garb is scarcely that of Indian taste, but this was one of the cases where the Major supplied the apparel in which they posed. The story you often hear that a tribal law require that twins be put to death, is without foundation and the Major is misquoted as its source.
This man typifies the more superstitious element among the Indians (which is, however, dying away gradually). When out in the mountains near Canyon City his wife fell ill and he decided that "Dr. Joe" some miles distant had "thrown medicine into" his wife thus causing her illness, he came into Pendleton with "blood in his eye." Fortunately, however, he met Major Morehouse, who talked him out of his purpose when we explained, "Me killee that doctor." He belongs to the Cayuse tribe.
The Indians of the Umatilla Reservation are more adept in the construction of bags than baskets, though they do make some baskets. When they do make them they use corn husks woven together with a twine made from roots they gather. Some baskets are, however, made of cedar roots covered with the inside of some kinds of bark. One of these we purchased, and wishing to use it for candy on one occasion, we scrubbed it thoroughly with a metal "mitt" and soap suds, but neither the form nor the colors were in the least affected.
Note the elaborate baby board. These baby boards are carried on the Indian women's backs. We might mention here that the women very much prefer being called Indian women to "Squaw") and if they are mixed blooded you will find yourself much more popular with them if you will remember to say "mixed blood" instead of "breed." We each our own particular species of pride.
This Indian came to a rather untimely end, for when he was thrown in jail for some offence his wife, Josephine, brought him "fire water" and after imbibing rater freely of it he fell on the flood, so injuring himself that death resulted.
Parson Motanic, now about 60 years old, was one of the wildest Indians on the Reservation before he came in contact with Rev. Cornelison of the Presbyterian Mission and was converted. Parson Motanic tells the story of the changes in his life in his tongue only, but his delivery of it is ideal and you are not surprised when the interpreter tells you that he says he was
Note the tule (too-le) tepee. Tule is very similar to cat-tails and is brought up on pack horses from near Echo. The stalks are cut in lengths, then into strips of tepee material resembling floor matting in color, though it is very much courser.
Baby's first cradle is simple, but as he grows older he is given a larger and more elaborate board. These first ones are almost always made of buckskin, though the later ones are frequently of cloth and very heavily beaded.
The girl in the middle is Esther, who in 1922 won the first place in Umatilla County's Oratorical contest - high school division. She is very popular among her schoolmates in the Pendleton High School.