Howard Malcolm Ballou

“ This course was soon found to be not only impracticable, but absolutely impossible, and at the general meeting of the Oregon Mission in 1838 it was formally voted:
"That we apply ourselves to the study of the Native Language & reduce it to writing."
The Rev. H. H. Spalding as a preliminary step had devised an artificial alphabet, in which the English consonants not needed in the Nez Perces language were used to designate the different vowel sounds ordinarily expressed in English by the same letter. ”

“ By this experience it was found that it would be easier to send the manuscript to the press than the press to the manuscript. Printing was resumed on the 20th, and on the 28th, Mr. Hall having started for the Sandwich Islands, Mr. Rogers who had been taught to set type and operate the press by Mr. Hall, was employed to take charge of the press and do the printing for the mission for 30, English money per year and his board, thereafter, so long as the mission was sustained, the usual routine of work was pursued. ”

“ A spelling book and an elementary book were soon prepared by Mr. Spalding to be forwarded to Honolulu to be printed on the presses of the Mission there. According to the Rev. Myron Eells, Mrs. Whitman copied a book of seventy-two pages, which Mr. Spalding intended to send to the Sandwich Islands.
Meanwhile, at the delegate meeting of the Hawaiian Mission, in June, 1838, it was voted in reply to Mr. Spalding's communication:
"That we comply with his request to print small books for the Nez Perces missions and also forward a few copies of scripture and other cuts ”

“ If so, by the time we are ready to reduce theirs to writing, it will not be deemed expedient For why should years be spent in reducing their language to a written state, which when done, must necessarily be increased one-third, or one-half, with new words, in order to embrace the scriptures. ”

“ Others will doubtless come to our assistance next season. The same church has offered to sustain a missionary in this field, which offer has been accepted by our mission & directions suggested as to the best manner of contributing to ths object."
On May 16th the press was set up and on May 18th the first proof-sheet was struck off. By May 24, 1839, four hundred copies of a small 8-page book in Nez-Perces in the artificial alphabet devised by Mr. Spalding were printed, this constitut- ing the first book ever printed in the Oregon Territory. ”

“ The writer has just discovered two more pages of this little book pages 5 and 6, two specimens of which were used in the binding of the copy of the 20-page First Book presented by Mr. Hall to Dr. Anderson of the A. B. C. F. M., and the Library of Congress has made a similar discovery in their copy, as has also the E. E. Ayer Library of Chicago. ”

“ Mr. Rogers makes the following report of activities in the printing department, as quoted by A. B. Smith in his annual
52 HOWARD MALCOLM BALLOU
report to the A. B. C. F. M. in a letter dated Kamiah, Oregon, Sept 28, 1840.
"Since I have had any connection with this department, a small book of 52 pages has been printed with the assistance of Mr. Hall, a copy of which accompanies this report. 800 copies were printed & 250 have been bound.
A room in Mr Spalding's house has been occupied with the press & types, but it is too small to do anything in to advantage. ”

“ Mr. Spalding, in a letter begun at Clear Water, March 5, 1839, informs Air. Greene:
"April 22. Sine writing the above, the Co's vessel has arrived from Honolulu bring Mr & Mrs Hall with a press, small font of type, binding materials & a quantity of paper all which I believe is a donation to this Mission from Rev Mr Bingham's church & congregation. Also a quantity of sugar, Molases & salt. Mr Hall has come to this country on account of Mrs H's health, & while he remains will put our press in oppcration Si labor otherwise as he may find occasion. ”