This famous chieftain was the hereditary ruler of the
Snoqualmie tribe, and also the ruling spirit of the Indians in
general on the eastern shore of the Sound between the border of
British Columbia and the present northern boundary of King
county. He was noted for shrewdness and cunning; and at the
first coming of the Whites he was hostile to them. While thus
opposing the settlers, he kept on good terms with the officials
of the Hudson's Bay Company. His cunning, not to say duplicity,
is shown by his conduct during the attack on Fort Nisqually in
October, 1849. While Cussass, his brother, was heading the
attack on the outside, he was quietly sitting inside smoking the
pipe of peace; and, when the time came for him to leave,
friendly Indians helped him escape.
On the breaking out of the Indian war in 1855,
successful efforts were made to prevent his joining the
hostiles. Governor Stevens authorized him to raise a company of
Indian scouts. These co-operated most effectively with the
volunteers in the northern campaign. During that war he brought
to Olympia the heads of two alleged hostile chiefs, as an
evidence of his loyalty.
It has been questioned whether this Snoqualmie
diplomatist was really friendly to the Whites; but, whatever his
real sentiments, he was cunning enough to see which way lay the
path of safety for himself. After his first effort in 1848 to
excite war against the settlers, he was thoroughly opposed to
hostilities. He lived to a great age.
