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
I consider suspense or uncertainty the most disagreeable condition
in the world. I did not wish to be annoyed by fear or dread of being
killed and I deemed it best to get that off my mind at once, as I was
tired and wished to rest. Again, I wanted freedom to be at the agency
unmolested. Then I did not much believe that the intention was to kill
me, for men who really intend to kill scarcely ever send word of their
intentions. All this passed in my mind, so it was not any great bravery
on my part.
On reaching the office I knocked, and was told to come in. I had my
shot gun ready. Their pistols lay in front of them. I was asked what
I wanted. I replied that I wanted to know whether it was to be war or
peace.
The agent answered, "I guess it had better be peace."
"Peace it is then," I put my gun down and shook hands with both.
I was kindly treated and accommodated in many ways by the agent, after
this, while at the agency I got a team from him to bring in the sled
and goods.
CHAPTER XXIX.
I Visit the Indian Camp--Our big Talk--Some of their Grievances--The
Kindness of an Indian in Providing Me a Horse.
The Indians were greatly pleased to see me. It is well understood
by all who are acquainted with Indian character, that they are
undemonstrative as a rule, except when angry, especially the warriors.
Many of them said I was a strong man and had good legs. They admired my
companion, saying they knew him and knew he was a good hunter.
The most that I desired for a few days was to rest and eat. Sessions
soon got filled up, but it seemed to me that I never would be able to
satisfy my stomach for having punished it so with the sickly mountain
sheep. There was plenty to eat at the trader's quarters. The agent was
kind, giving us all the potatoes and milk we wanted; these being about
the only articles the trader was lacking. The dog was in about the
same fix as myself, he tried to eat everything on the reservation, but
finally got satisfied by getting at a barrel of tallow, one day, and
eating, as we all estimated, about ten pounds. Reader, remember this
was a large dog.
Basor, the trader, would not cook for me. He said a man that ate as
much as I did would have to do his own cooking. So one day while alone,
I made up my mind to conquer my hunger. I cooked a good square meal for
three of us, waited a little while for the others then sat down and ate
the whole of it. I did not feel hungry again for several days. After
getting this difficulty over, I told the Indians I would visit their
camp and have a talk with them. A time was appointed, and Tabby, the
chief, sent a man and horse for me. The camp was some eight miles from
the station. When I reached their camp, there were about fifty of the
principal men of the tribe present. "Captain Joe," of Thistle valley,
was there also. I always considered him like some of our political
white men, not very reliable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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