The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-01-07
= 7 7---T ? n
IN INDIAN VILLAGE.

permitted to- come across the prairie
through hot summers sun, ard sud
denly discovers one. nestled under the
broad'shade trees, beside q clear run!
Ming stream, in agreen valley How
pleasant. the grass then looks; how re-
freshing the bright waters, and how CO..
'sy the tall lodges, withtheir shaded vel
randahs 81 thickly interviewer boughs.
All day long we had toiled over the
scerching PLAN, through clouds ofgrassr
'hoppers that often struck us inthe' face
with sufficient force to make The skim
smart orseyeral minutes, Opce we had
seen mirage of beautiful lake, firing
ed With trees and surrounded by green
pastures, which invited us to pursue it's
fleeing shadows, but we we'll knew all
'alIouu the deceptiohs by sal experiences
and pushed steadily on over the burn
lpg saaqs. AsI sdl ssljt,ra rr,
These mirages often deceive the weary
traveller OF the desert. suddenly the
,horsmen sees river lr lake, apparent
iy. just ahead of him, and he rides on
.nd on, hoping to come up to it. For
hours it lies before his eyes, and thenilil
a moment disappears, leaving him miles
and miles out OF his way, and in tlle
midst OF desert sands..' z 1.et t!fR
Men Daye ritidcn all day striving TO
reach the beautiful river just before
them, and then al night turn back to
plod their weary way to where they had
started from in the morang. These mir
ages often lead to death both man and
horse.
The mirage "e had seen was most de-
lightiul, representing II clear lake, with
trees, meadows and villages Nesting ON
its shores, but ii scarcely equalled the
reality OF the scene whep, late in the af-
ternoon we ascended rise in the prai
rie, and saw below us wide stream lin
ed with green trees, OH its banks large
Indian encampment.
The por les pricNed up their ears and
neighed with pleasure as they smelt the
water, and our own delight wis un
bounded. We haltod for a,lnoment to
admire The beautiful prospect. Through
the majestic trees, slanling rays of the
sun shivered on the grass. Far away,
v inding like huge silver-serpent, ran
ths river, while near by in a shady grove
stood the village the children at play
on the green lawns, not made by hands.
The white sides of the teepers shone in
the setting sunlight, and the smoke curl-
d lazily upward from their dingy tops.
Bright ribbons and red grass, looking
like steamers ON ship, tluttered from
the lolge-poies, and gaudily-dressed
squaws and warriors walked about, or
sat on the green sod under the trees
There were maideDs, 'as Beautiful Ms
Hiswatha, or as graceful as Minnehaha.
wandering, hand in hand, along the
stream, or listening under the shade of
some wide spreading Tree to words OF
love, as soft and tender as ever were
poured into woman's ear
!. Near the village We're hundreds of
horse and ponies, with bright feathers
fiaunting in their names and tails as
they cropped the rich grass of the val
10y.
A group of noisy children were play
ing at a game much resembling ten
pins; some boys were shooting at a
mark with arrows, and up the stream
several youths were returning home
with rod and line, and fine strings of
speckled trout.
Scores of men-and women were swim
ming sbout in the river, now diving;
and then dousing each other, amid
screams of laughter from the bystand-
ers on the shore. Here and there a
young girl darted about like fish, her
black hair streaming behind her in the
water,
While we looked, the little children
ceased from play and ran into
the lodges; mounted men surrounded
the herd, and the swimmers and prom
enaders FASTENED toward the village
We had been perceived by the villagers,
and the unexpected rrriyal of strange
horsenien 1T an Indian encnnipinent.-
They may lie friends, but they are more
often enemies, so tbe Villagers are a.
ways prepared for surprise.
Some men, ,weie seen running to and
fa,-mith guns aud bows, and in q few II
minutes, some mounted warriors left
Ihs e, campment and rode toward us,
going first TO the top of the highest
to SEQ If they could discover
other horsemen in the rear, or TO the
right or left of us.
. No sooner did they ascertain there
were but three in the party, than they
rode boldly up ana asked ,us our bust
ness. / tod them who we were, and
where we were from, upon which they
cordially invited US TO the village.
As we approached, men, women and
poured out of the encampment
o look at the strangers, and having sat
SIZED their curiosity, the sports and
of the evening were renew
ID. s.,.,...., II
asked permission to camp of no one, {
or 1 needed none, as this was God'si
and, and mot owned by raveneus and I
spectators. So 1 marched ,
light down to the center Of the village,
nd finding vacant space, pitched MY /
odge. 1t wasnot necessary TO purchase !
town lot here, for no one. save Him !
fho owps all, held real estate. 1
A few Ssntee wollen gathered abcutt
~ squaws and .ehatted with them, aux
rus to learn the news from down 1.-The |,
lver. Seeing that they were interior v