The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-01-10
AN INDIAN VILLAGE.

| pIdlIc tuIOuSu HOJ SUMMER sun, ana
suddenly discovers one nestled under the
broad shade trees, beside clear running
stream, in green valley. How pleasant
the grass then looks how refreshing the
bright waters, and how cosy the tall lodg-
es, with their shaded verandahs of thick
| ly interviewer boughs.
All day long we had toled over the
scorching plain, through clouds of grass
| hOppers that often struck us in the face
with sufficient force to make the skin
smart for several minutes. Once we had
seen a mirage of beautiful lake, fringed
with trees aud surrounded by green pas
lures, which invited us to pursue its fee
ting shadows, but we well knew all about
these deceptions by sad experience, and
pushed steadily on over the burning
, sands
These mirages often deceive the weary
traveller of the desert Suddenly the
horsemen sees a river or lake, apparently,
just ahead of him, and he rides on, and
on, hoping to come up to it. For hours
it lies before his eyes, and then in mo
ment disappears, leaving him miles and
miles out of his way, and in the midst Of
desert sands.
Men have ridden all day striving to
reach the beautiful river Just before them
and then at night turn back to plod their
weary way to where they had started from
in the morning. These mirages often
lead to death both man and horse
| The mirage we had seen was most de-
lightful, representnga clear lake, with
trees, meadows and villages nesting on
its shores, but it scarcely equalled the re-
ality of the scene when, late in the after
noon we ascended rise in the prairie, and
saw below us wide stream lined with
! green trees, and on its banks large In
dian encampment.
The ponies pricked up their ears and
neighed with pleasure as they smelt the
water, and our own delight was unboun-
ded. We halted for moment to admire
the beautiful prospect. Through the ma
jestic trees, slanting rays Of the sun shiv-
cred on the grass. Far away, winding
like huge silver-serpent, ran the river,
while near by in shady grove, stood the
villagc--the children at play on the green
lawns, not made by hands. The white
sides of the teepees shone in the setting
sunlight, and the smoke curled lazily up
ward from their dingy tops. Bright rib
bons and red grass, looking like streamers
on ship, huttered from the lodge-poles
and gaudily-dresscd squaws and warriors
walked about, or sat on the green sod un-
der the trees There were maidens, as
beautiful as Hiawatha, 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
we're poured into woman's ear.
Near the village were hundreds Of
horses and ponies, with bright feathers
Haunting in their names and tails as they
cropped the rich grass Of the valley.
A group of noisy children were playing
at game much resembling ten-pins f;
some boys were shooting at 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 about in the river, now diving and
then dousing each other, amid screams Of
laughter from the bystandcrs on the shore.
Here and there young girl darted about
like fish, her black hair st roaming behind
her in the water.
| While we looked, the little children
suddenly ceased from play and ran into
! tho loduaS. n,ountn1 man SurrnunIpI thn
herd, and the swimmers and promcnaders
hastened toward the village. We had
been perceived by the villagers, and the
unexpected arrival Of strange horsemen
at an Indian encampment always creates
great excitement. They may be friends,
/ but they are more often enemies, so the
villagers are always prepared for 4
surprise.
Some men were seen running to and
/ fro with guns and bows, and in Il few
minutes, some mounted warriors left the
cncampment and rode toward us going
first to the top Of the highest mound to
see if they could discover other horscmen
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 and asked us our business
told them who We were, and where wC
were from, upon which they cordially in
yitcd US to the village.
As we approached, men, women ant
children poured out of the encampmen
to look at the strangers, and having sat
isfed their curiosity, the sports anc
amusements of the evening were renewed
asked permission to camp of no one
g., | naoJad mana ot, tl,ip ,,.uv - D1'c l.r1