The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29

greensward, the dance and the song goes mer-
rily on, sometimes until the gray streaks of the
coming morning begin to thicken in the East,
and chase away the shadows of night. The
Camanche's serenade admired much. There
is a wild grace aud weird music connected with
it, that charms one with the performance. The
young folk have social game somewhat re-
sembling the Irish game called "shufle the
brough." Fifteen, twenty, or more, of both sexes,
sit on the grass, and in a ring each one has
small switch. One person takes his or her
station inside the ring. A ring of dried grass
runs around Just in front of the sitters, through
which pond-lily pod is kept passing. If tho
person standing within the ring gussses the
whereabouts of the pod, and strikes it with the
stick, he or she is relieved by the person oppo-
site to whom the pad is found. If, however,
they guess wrong, and strike without hitting,
they get a sharp lick from all the keen little
switches. One hight, while watching the prog
ress of the game, was invited to participate;
but at first declining, | was laid hold of by a
brighteyed, dusky maiden, and made to take
my seat by her side. But by her dexterity in
keeping the pod passing, did not have to un-
dergo the torture Of the switches.
Polygamy is here practiced to a considerable
extent. Nearly every adult male Indian who
can afford it has more than one wife. l visited
the wigwam of large, corpulent fellow, who
INDUCED himself in seven of these Injuries. He
profered to sell me the youngest and prettiest
of his wives for my horse. She was a Lapan,
as he informed me, and had been taken prisoner,
when quite girl, by the Southern Camanches,
of whom he had bought her. find this thing
of buying and selling women to be quite COM
mon.
Although the sale of liquor is strictly pro-
hibited by Government, it is kept and sold
among these poor Indians. During my stay
among them, / saw several of them beastly
drunk, and several offered to treat me from
long, black bottles. | have very poor opinion
of most of the Indian traders / have vet seen.
They look to me like mercenary set of cut
throats, who care for nothing but making
money, and would not scruple at any means
to accomplish the one grand object of their
lives Undoubtedly there may be some honest,
upright traders, who would not conlaminate the
Indian with the vices of civilization. But Gov
eminent should be very careful as TO who are
licensed to traffic with those untutored people.
saw Major Bain, the Indian Agent, several
times, but did not become acquainted with
him, and therefore / shall not express my
opinion, pro or con, as to his fitness for the re
sponsible post Government has seen fit to as
sign him. He is a very plain, ordinary-look-
ing man, with countenanee not very remark
able for either intelligence or honesty. At first
sight, / mistook him for an ox-driver. But
then, you know, appearances are often de.
ceiving.
Of one thing, however, l am thoroughly con-
WINGED and that is, that Government has now
a fair opportunity of trying its hand on a new
and improved method of civilization, and l.
ought to avail itself of every means in its power.
Let the Caddos, Camanches, Delswares, Shaw
nees Wacos, and Wichitas who have surren-
dered themselves into the hands of their pale
faced brothers, receive from their hands the
care and attention their wants require.
Their physical wants are already pretty well
supplied. Government has furnished them wiz
blankets, and is furnishing them with food.
| They draw hour, sugar, coffee, beans, rice, salt
rori-, fresh beef &C., the same as the army F;
excepting the army draw full ratioLs, while
they only draw ,hree-fourths. They are sup
posed to make up the other fourth by hunting
and fishing.
Now, let their spiritual, moral, social, and
civil wants be attended to. Yours, truly,
Guy OLKLEAF.