The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-02-07
Ouray, the Ute Chief.


Thirteda years ago made the ac-
quaintande OF Ouray, when he was en-
caInped with thousand wild Indians
belonging to his tribe, about FIVE miles
from Fort Garland, Colorado. He was
then one of the finest-looking Indians l
had ever seen, and was withal, as was
assured by Gen. Kit Carson-my guide
to the encampment of the utes honest
and reliable. He had visited Washing
ton and New York, and had brought
back with him many enlightened ideas,
saying on his return, here are too
many white people for the Indians.
We might Kill all here, and then they
would send great swarm from the
States and would wipe us out.
The fine-looking chief was very hand
sonlely dressed in buckskin, richly and
tastefully ornamented with beads; his
hands and feet were very small and well
shaped, and his moccasins were per-
feet fit. He was then in receipt of $50
per month from the Government, as in
terpreter, and his income was apparent
in lis dress, ana mat Of his squaw, a
handsome-Iooking woman who accom-
panied him astride of fine horse. Ouray
and his party escorted me out to their
camp. AS / galloped on, backward
glance at my grotesque followers sug-
gested the. thought what q sensation our
party w6ti1tf make In Central Park!
With Gen. Carson, took the lead, and
we were followed by several old
hunters dressed in buckskin shirts
and leggins, fringed and embroidered.
Then came the Indians, whooping to
their ponies as they rode along. They
were dressedin buckskin, brightblank-
cts, beads and feathers, their bows and
arrows slung on their backs, in cases
and quivers of deer orr horse~skin saud
their long rifles in front Of them. The
Utes were encamped on large plain.
Their wigwams were not of skins like
the Prairie Indians, but were made of
drilling, stretched over lodge-poles,
looking like the Sibley tents (Which were
designed from an Indian wIgwam). In
front of the warriors tents were stuck
up their spears, ornamented with eagles
feathers and with their painted shields
of buffalo hide and head ornaments of
feathers hanging from them. ] went to
Ouray's wigwam and he politely asked
me in. On declining to 'dismount, his
squaw brought me a cup of water. A
crowd of Indians gathered around with
a fixed and steady gaze at what, fear,
they considered the intruders in their
camp.
Many of them had red blankets, which
they wore in the Mexican fashion, hid
ing all but their eyes. rode around
the camp and passed one wigwam where
somebody was sick, and where they were
making medicine. The tent was filled
with Indians, principally squaws and
papooses. They sat around in circle
humming a low. chant, and knocking on
some metal. Kit Carson was received
by all these savages with a wonderful
amount of cordially. Their stolid faces
frightened with smiles, and they held
out their, hands with their SALVATION,
{" Como lie va" or the Indian ssHow!"
A life of 40 years in this wild country
had brought him into intimate acquaint-
ance with the Indian tribes. He shook
hands with squaw who seemed very
much pleased with the attention, and l
afterward learned that when he went on
his last campaign against the Navajoes,
with his Mexican regiment, he was ac-
companied by 80 Ute Indians. and this
old squaw went with them all the way.
Not many years since, on a represen-
tation made to the American Bible So
ciety of the fine qualities of this distin-.
guished chief, very handsome Bible
was prepared for him and conveyed 10
him from the society by the hand Of his
old friend Gen. Kit Carson. The pre-
sentation was one of the last acts of the
veteran pathfinder in his final journey
to the land of the setting sum. Y.