The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-07-30
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL, NO. 1.

rounded by the comforts of civilization, am
Just now luxuriating in supreme laziness.-
1t is pleasant to hear again the rustic Of the
scythe and the busy hum of the harvester,
to mingle again with old friends. To see
woman, civilized, cultivated, dressed, instead
of the robe wrapped, brass ringed, grease
besmeared squaw, of the aborigine. Camp
life has its pleasures, and even tramping
across the plains alone and Topping down
wherever night overtakes you, is not half as
bad as one might suppose wLo had never
tried it. Ny trip out to the mountains was
a long one, and met with many adven-
lures. After left Kearney, nearly every
returning emigrant talked with, had ve-
ry hard story to tell. They told me to turn
back, and save my time and money, and ma
ny of them after giving me good advice as
they thought, and finding me disregard it,
called me fool; sometimes their language
was little annoying, but l presume that
now, when they look back at their conduct
during the stampede, it troubles them more
than it did me. One very intelligent young
fellow, with whom had quite a conversa-
ton and who said he had been to Cherry
Creek, urged me very strongly to 90 back,
and finally, when started Westward again,
told me, that when got in tight place,
must remember that he gave me due warn
ing. thanked him and went on, and
have no doubt he remembers that advice as
we'll as I do. found plenty OF Indians on
the road, but, instead of taking my scalp,
thew never molested me in any manner.
| would shake hands with them, and as a
matter of course, they would beg for some
thing, but when refused them they said no
more, and made no attempt K snatch anything
rs the sneaking Pawnees do. y fine looking
Cheyenne met me early one morning and af
ter the usual salutation took my knife from
its sheath, then taking out his, which was
an old one, not as good as mine, he said
q" swap" told him no, and he returned
nv knife without word. Whether the
sight of the revolver sticking in my belt had
any influence with him or not, cannot say,
but had he kept both knives, should GER
tainly not have shot him, as two or three
hundred Indians were near and would have
revenged his death in 4 manner moro speedy
than agreeable. A. tho California cross
ing, there Was an old Inlian who owned 40
or 50 ponies, and had, rs the traders said.
$4,000 in gold, boarded away in his lodge,
he was IA very hoSpitab.c old man, and when
ever a white man went to his lodge, he al
ways invited him in and had cup of cof-
fee made for him; he seemed to feel proud
in doing this, and whenever he visited tho
white men he expected them to treat him in
the same manner, which they were general
~ careful to do. The traders az the cross
ing, informed me that the buffalo robes they
got of the lnlians, gencralir cost them on Y
~ or 50 cents apiece. Silver half dollars
are in great demand among all these tribes.
They beat them out thin into ornaments,
and the size suits them much better than
any thing smaller. \ dollar or five franc
piece, is grcnt treat. From Fl. kearney
nearly out to Denver, all the Italians saw
we're Cheyonncs or Sioux. - Beaver creek
no miles from Denver, band Of the lat
I ter we.e cncampol. The chief was an old
| ! 49,, = ! 81
low, h. wore a Monroe medal, Of which he
was very proud and toJk particular pains
to exhibit. | had then fallen in company
with FRED CHAMBERS and Nh. glenn, and
they bought several buffalo robes Of these
Indians, we found them hard cases to trade
with, as the stompelins emigrants hid Civ
en- them such cool bargains that they
asked twice as much for their robes as they
did when those emf grants were going out.
( tried very harl to trade with an Old milan
for beautiful iron grey pony, offered him
first my rife, he shook his head, then | ad-
ded flask Of powder, bag of bullets and a
box Of cups, he still shook his head, then
! put in two silver half dollars, 10 use, at last
[ capped the pile with circular gilt frame
! looking glass. This struck bis fancy, and
this time he didn't shake his head for sever
al minutes, he seemed to be in deep study
and finally, as If afraid to trust his own
judsn cnt, he went and had talk with som
! others Of the band, this decided the case
against me, kept my traps and he kept his
pony. 1t was great sport to see the squaws
after they had sold their wrapping robes,
, scGd for their lod yes en- dishajiIle, 10 few
+ moments they would return smiling, with
another robe around them. and perhaps sell
, shat and scud again. Ny looking glass was
passed around among the ladies and great-
! ~ admired. l suspect however, that the
fine reflections in it were the cause of the ad-
mlraton, as the ladies of the plain seem TO
value their charms as highly as our women
folks generally. A look into the glass
seemed to brighten the papooses rs the little
fellows would roar out Justify not dreaming
that the copper colored plates they saw there
were faithful copies of their own dirty
"muss." The Chevennes and Sioux were
living in perfect amity, and with the help of
the Arapahoes, who are also their friends,
they could turn out strong band Of warri-
ors. Much has been said about the skill
and ingenuity Of the squaws in making fan
cy work, such as moccasns and work boxes,
and many persons have an idea that white
women with the same materials, could not
equal them but am we'll satisfied, that more
than half the girls in the State over 10
years old who know how to sew at all, can
beat them badly at their own favorite en-
p!oyment. Raven the Arapahoe chief dres-
scs in citizens clothes, and is middle aged,
quiet, dignfod man. lie cap speak little
English and is very friendly to the whites.
There are several white men about Denver
aud Auraria who have sqlaw wives, and
! those ladies are said to be very partial to