St. Landry democrat., 1880-02-07
Onray, the Ute Chief.

Thirteen years ago | made the ac-
quaintance of Ouray, when he was en-
camped with thousand Wild Indians
belonging to his tribe, about five miles
from Fort Garland, Colorado. He was
then one of the finest-looking Indians |
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, :" There are too
many white people for the Indians.
We might kill all here, and then they
would send a great swarm from the
States and would wipe Us out
The tine-looking chief was very hand
somely dressed in buckskin, richly and
tastefully ornamented with beads; his
hands and feet were very small and well
shaped, and his moccasins were 4 per-
feet lit. He was then in receipt Of $50
per month from the Government, as in
terpreter, and his income was apparent
in his dress, and that of his squaw, q
handsome-looking woman who accom-
panied him astride of a fine horse. Ouray
and his party escorted ME out to their
camp. As | galloped on, Il backward
glance at my grotesque followers sug-
gested the thought what a sensation our
party would 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 dressed in buckskin. bright blank
cts, beads and feathers, their bows and
arrows slung on their backs, in cases
and quivers of deer or horse-skin and
their long rifles in front of them. The
ties were enc4mped on y 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 wlgwam). In
front of the warriors tents were stuck
up their spears, ornamented with eagles
feathers, and with then 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
opposes. They sat around in circle
a low chant, and knock ing on
some metal. Kit Carson was received |
~ all these savages with wonderful |
amount of cordiality. Their stolid faces
frightened with smiles, and they held
'ut their hands with their saluatiol,,
: Como lie va or the Indian "How!n
\ life of 40 years in this wild country
lad brought him into intimate acquaint-
lnce with the Indian tribes. He shook
lands with a squaw who seemed very
much pleased with the attention, and |
Ifterward learned that when he went on
lis last campaign against the Navajocs,
With his Mexican regiment, he was ac-
by so Ute Indians, and this
Id squaw went with them all the way
Not many years since, on represen-
alton made to the American Bible So
iety of the fine qualities of this distin-
uished chief, a very handsome Bible
7as prepared for him and conveyed to
i'm from the society by the hand of his
Id friend Gen. Kit Carson. The pre-
entation was one of the last acts of the
eteran pathfinder in his final journey
} the land of the setting SUM-. Y.
I'm.