Callam ('strong people') A Salish
tribe living on the south side of Puget Sound, Washington,
formerly extending from Port Discovery to Hoko River, being
bounded a teach end by the Chimakum and Makah.
subsequently they occupied Chimakum territory and established a
village at Port Townsend. A comparatively small number
found their way across to the south end of Vancouver Island, and
according to Kane, there was a large village on Victoria Harbor.
They are said to be more closely related to the Songish than to
any other tribe. Their villages were: Elwha, Hoko,
Huiauulch, Hunnint, Kahtai, Kaquaith, Klatlawas (extinct),
Pistchin (extinct), Sequim, Stehtlum, Tsako, Tsewhitzen,
Tsitsukwich, and Yennis. Eleven villages were enumerated
by Ellis in 1886, but only 3, Elwha, Pistchin, and Sequim, are
spoken of under their native names.
Population 800 in 1854, according to Gibbs. There
were 336 on Puyallup reservation, Washington in 1904, 248 at
Jamestown and 88 at Port Gamble.
The Duke Of York - Cheetsamahoin, who was usually styled His
Royal Highness, the Duke of York, appears to have been
hereditary chief of the tribe of the Clallams, who occupy the
land at the mouth of the Strait of Fuca on the south side. He
was an able, faithful ruler, and highly esteemed by the Whites.
As early as 1854, he was officially appointed head chief of his
tribe by Governor Stevens through the agent, Michael T. Simmons.
He held this office and performed its duties with vigor and
fidelity until, in 1870, he was found to be growing too old and
infirm for its active obligations, and by Agent Eells was at
that time constituted a sort of honorary chief, whose counsels
were to be respected. He was a good, faithful man, and doubtless
saved many lives by his honest adherence to our government. He
died a few years ago at a great age, and was followed to his
grave by a great concourse of people of both the white and
Indian races.
