Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-08-05

PRIVATE LETTER FROM MRS. DIR. PAINTER NJ 1HB
OMAHA AGENCY.

OMAHA AdERcY, 9Th Month, Path, 1865.
The great work of allotting the Indiana thei.
lands in severaltles, has at length begun under |
the management Of the new "Major." II Is q
new era in the history of the Omahis, and has |
long been anticipated by them, but until now, no
one has taken the necessary steps to bring about
the desired reformation. They feel that n good
kind father has come among them, who will exert
his best energies for their Improvement and hap
piness. The breaking Of ground Tor the Spring
crops, very important operation, Is being car
ried on under the supervision OF our new farmer,
j. c. Gilpiu, of Sandy Spring, Nd, together with
the fencing in Of the corn fields belonging To the
Indians, to prevent the trespassing of stock. 1t
Is the intention of the Major to have comfortable
franc houses built, and enclosed by neat fences,
and the fields that arc now bare covered with
Spring wheat, so that there need be no more
cause for the saying OF the Indians, "Mc hungry"
Edward has purchased several loads Of wheat,
and had it made into flour, at the mill on the re-
serve, and has also purchased sugar and coffee
with his own private funds for the benefit of the
tribe, as their annuity money is not always Ut
hand TO meet the demands of hunger, and there
arc no weekly issues Of beef aud four ms is Gus
tomary at the Wnnebago Agency The Omahas
were prevented from going on their Summer
hunt by command of Gen. Augur, and as II sub
stitutc herd of cattle, 80 in number, has been
purchased for them. There is an old tradition,
which is sacred TO the Omahas, that unless they
kill certain number OF buffalo the snow in the
Winter will cover their tepees, lodges to au
unusual depth, 50 us to prevent their living in
them They expect to go out on their fall hunt.
which perhaps will be their last, the Major has
told them when they are engaged in farming
their land, they will have NO time to spare for
huiting.
They appear TO he aroused to the necessity OF
industry, aud they.gcnelally seem ~ b. s'tsh d
with the change. While am wrltng, many q
| them arc Ia the Council house. with the Maj,i
ard interpreter, having some very important talk
concerning the allotment. They are allowed i,
select any portion Of the reserve they may pl,ns,
and plant stakes, so rs to establish "a claim; and
in some cases they are willing 10 surrender Il
another, who may have q priur right t, a cert ii,
portion. Some Of The young mcu are rngigrt
in cutting timber, to he sawed. for lhr urp3s,
OF fencing, for which, rs well us iUt plONing Til,
government allows Them certain compensation
The surveyors have employed several Of III,
Omala's MS chain and iag carriers. Every eli n
is made to encourage habits Of industry.
/ went to Ouawa the other day TO do SOM
shopping and visit dentist. 1t is thriyin,
town in Iowa, on the Sioux City Railroad, liv
hours travel from Omaha City. The people ar
mostly from New York and Boston, and very Ell
terpiising. found dry goods selling as loN d
I
several pleasant ncquuintanccs, add lound thrl
very hospilahle. Onlwa is ~ miles distant lroi
Decatur and ~ from the Agency. We cross III
Missouri at Decatur IN ierryb1at, Piled by tire
men with oars. The river at luis sunsuH /, We
. named the Muddy River" bu. in winter no &c
Is clear rs crystal, and from 10 10 II Inches ihic
| was told by one ul Tit bolilnpti, who reside |
huts along the shore, that the river water i use
, altogether By them for drinking aud tunu
( purposes but Is liret settled by mixing Il ur wii
II. he road from the river / OliMa pass
through Level tract tact Of couutry, cail,d 10
tom l.nd, which is covered Tor many miles wit
a rank grass high that, il -uuie places, "a
noises were almost lost in II. IN distance ,
len miles only ont dwelling huii.c was s,,tii; ne
ii was whcaiiicld and one corn field the on
; marks oi CIVILIZATION in that whole extent
country. What n pity, thought, wheat vnu
. not be Occupying this rich soil, tut was tod II
!, river bottom ltii VA, MT 20 well adapted To
II do not admire whnl saw If l,wn and, at,
hu''ll'N ~ lNp Wa .,iiiI u tluTll IH
to the beautiful Nebraska Lill'. Ga uur WN
Of, home we were joined by young minister, wi
= was visiting the missionary schools at The lift
cit agencies. lie toDk tea with u, aud continue
d his way 10 the mission school three miles dstau
lie had sptnt some time at the Snnli Sion
agency, which Is undcr the care of Asa jaime
oi Virginia. AS yet there arc no day schools
II operation.
l. 4. We have two drawbacks to perfect contcil
Inpnt, VIZ mosquitoes and cislern water. b
We continue TO be happy and cnntentcd wtha
X Oi our physical comforts we have no cause
IS complain; We have good health, dcghtlul G.
n mate cool and pleasant weather, with Inc exec
ton OF u few warm DAYS ut a time.
= The Majors business transactions with Il
T. tibc are at tlm9s ptrpleXing, but, with pilionc
~ lie hopes to sunuunt all difficulties ol lt kin
Our young invalid from Pennsylvania iu !. hil
sell already much improved. lie has the loan
y an Indian pony Tor his accommodation aud rniI
m II much. We cannot complain Of hrtii lone
mere. Ihtc viii tlink 10 When TIL ih1s -, la
the other evening NJ the tea table, seven g.rtl
T. men, iutst Of them majors, doctor, -,hi cditpil
to " Major y Toward Waite and DIR Joseph L. W.
al from the Winncbago agency. visit us ircqIcnll
and IL Is pleasant TO have them so near H.. n
= delegation ol Friends appointed by the Soct
IL TO visit the agencies are now on their way 81
and we hope To have the pleasure of their cor
, pany IN a few days. My dear husband is SO mu
II cngiusscd with his official duties he has no til
10 write nj present; lac has not even the first d
" OF INC week Tor lcpose, as the lndiIus teVugni
a., no day 81 rest IN particular, and being Mai
> ana Doctor, too, you may Imagine how IL is.