Notes to reader:

The following transcriptions have tried to maintain the original spelling,capitalization and punctuation of the original letters. In his letters Dr. Whitman often used "+" for "and" and "+c" for "etc." Comments by the transcriber are enclosed in square brackets, [].

"Islands" refers to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii), where the American Board had established missions.

Any mention of Fort Walla Walla or the place "Walla Walla" refers to the Hudson's Bay Company post at the confluence of the Walla Walla and Columbia rivers. The US Army's Fort Walla Walla did not exist until after the deaths of the Whitmans.

List of Selected 1843 Correspondence

April 7, 1843: Dr. Whitman to Reverend David Greene

Dr. Whitman describes the Natives' traditional food gathering cycle and migratory patterns; discusses how farming has been merged into this cycle; mentions that some of the Natives are interested in obtaining cattle; dicusses the missionaries' progress in changing beliefs; describes the traditional belief system and the role of the medicine man; relates how one medicine man demonstrated his power; and mentions progress made at the missionary schools at Waiilatpu and Lapwai.