Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the nativesJones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
History
Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the natives
Jones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.); Indians of North America; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Biography
On arriving at that place I was notified by the Indians to leave within
three days or they would kill me. This I was prepared to expect, for
my Indian friend in Salt Lake did not speak very positively in regard
to my safety in going, but thought maybe it would be all right. This
word came from Tabby, my old friend. He would not come to see me, but
sent word, saying, "You are an old friend, but the Mormons have killed
many of my people; you are a Mormon, and if you stay here you will be
killed. Some are mad because I do not want you killed at once. Now
hurry and get ready for I do not want to see you die."
I went to work, feeling first rate, and made me a saddle within the
time. Some of the Indians would come where I was at work and watch me,
but would not speak. I treated them with perfect indifference.
When the saddle was done an Indian wanted to buy it. I told him I could
not sell it; that I had to leave or the Indians would kill me. He said
he would go and see if they would not wait three days more, so that
I could let him have the one on hand. I agreed. He returned in a few
hours and said it was all right. Some might ask, "Could you believe
him?" I answer, most certainly.
I sold the saddle starting on another, which had the same history, thus
continuing for some time until I began to feel quite at home, making
saddles and selling them for a good price, with the prospect of being
killed every three days. There is an old saying that one can get used
to almost anything except getting killed more than once.
Tabby often passed by where I could see him, but would never look
towards me. I believed that in his heart he was my friend, for I was
his. This looked a little strange, but, understanding Indian character
so well, I knew it would not do for me to speak first.
One day Tabby stepped into my shop accompanied by his young squaw. I
had my work-bench across the room so that I faced the door, all my
stuff behind and protected by the bench. I kept very busy, scarcely
speaking to anyone coming in. Simply selling saddles under the rule
mentioned. He came up to the bench in haughty Indian style, never
offering to speak. I felt almost like laughing for I knew he was
playing a part, and I determined to beat him if possible, so I never
even looked up from my work. Soon he laid a new butcher knife down on
the bench without speaking a word. I took the knife and made a nice
scabbard for it, and laid it on the bench before him. He then took a
pair of stirrups from his squaw and laid them on the bench. I had a
pair of stirrup-leathers made and hanging up. I took them and put them
on the stirrups and laid them down as I had the knife, then went on
with my work without taking any further notice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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