n that
was finally signed by "Lawyer," head chief of the Nez Perces, and by
"Timothy" and "Jason," sub-chiefs, all of whom claimed to be, and in
fact were, acting for the entire tribe by virtue of authority given
them by the tribal laws, and by a general council of their people
assembled for that purpose.

In this treaty, the Indians agreed, for certain considerations that
were entirely satisfactory to them, to relinquish certain portions of
their reservation which they agreed were not needed or used by them,
and to remove from said lands within one year from that date; to locate
and live upon the reservation therein designated and described.

[Illustration: CHIEF JOSEPH.]

The tract relinquished to the United States in this instrument included
the Wallowa Valley. When the chiefs returned to their people and
reported their action, Young Joseph repudiated the treaty, and refused
to be bound by it. He claimed the Wallowa Valley as the special home
and inheritance of himself and his people, and said he would continue
so to claim it, and to occupy it whenever he chose, against all other
claimants, white or red.

In this dissension he was in time joined by White Bird, Looking Glass,
To-hul-hul-sote and other sub-chiefs, and several hundred warriors.
These became known henceforth as the "Non-treaty Nez Perces." Joseph
and his band had never really occupied the valley permanently, and had
never before made any special claim to it as against any other portion
of the tribe. He had frequently gone into it during the summer to fish
and hunt, in common with various other bands of the tribe, but had
never staid more than a few weeks at a time, and had made his home
during the greater portion of each year in the Imnaha Valley near the
Snake River.

In 1871, a few whites settled in the Wallowa Valley. Joseph protested,
became obstreperous, ordered them away, and threatened violence if they
remained, but so far did nothing more than threaten. Other whites came
in the following years and the complications increased. Complaints were
made to the Government that the Indians were annoying and threatening
the settlers, and in 1875 President Grant issued an executive order,
proclaiming that the Wallowa Valley was a part of the public domain and
open to settlement by white people.

In May, 1877, Joseph and his band became more arrogant than ever, and
again threatened immediate and violent measures against the settlers if
they did not a