The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-02-12

the curled and speckled beauties from
the dark Iecesses.
The internal eeonsmy Of an Indian
lodge is worth looking at, Their tents
are pitched by means of poles set up in
circular form, the tops Joined together,
50 as TO leave 3 large open space whers-
in the various domestic affairs can be
performed. There is no great attempt
at cleanliness, the red men and women
deeming this altogether unnecessary,
from which circumstance arises the
smell of an Indian lodge, which is peeu-
liar, and at the same time by no means
bined with the odor of dressed buffalo
robes and fresh meat, forms a scent at
once searching and, to the unsophisti-
Gated individual, altogether disagreea-
BILE. This odor peryades everything
clothing, arms, implements, lodges and
all Else. There may be some exhala-
tion from the aboriginal's body which
goes towards making up this singular
smell. The squaws do the cooking,
and seem to have pots and kettles
enough for all purposes. There is no
particular time at which they have
their meals, an Indian eating generally
when he feels hungry. Buffalo meat is
the principal Article OF diet, with deer
and elk meat when attainable. They
cook in many different ways, and were
things clean it would all be well enough.
The lodge is partitioned of, each indi-
vidual of the family having his sleep
ing place. with an ample supply of
robes and blankets. The fire is in the
center Of the lodge, and all the men,
beers of the family sleep with their feet
toward it. Except in rainy and severe
weather, the Indians do NOT spend a
great deal Of time in their lodges, pre-
ferring rather to go about with their
horses. %e
They are not remarkably active, ex-
cept when out hunting or with u wal
party, when all of their energies are x
erted TO the utmost. They are fond OF
their children, but at the same time do
not pay much attention to them-the
little ones being allowed to- run about
doing pretty much as they please, and
paying no great attention to their par
ents. The children are never punished
at least they are not struck with a
whip or stick-the Indians believing
that such a course has Il tendency TO
break the spirit of the child.
A great deal of unnecessary senti-
meDt has been expended upon the lndi-
IS. No N can deny that they have
certain rights, but at the same time the
white men also have rights; and no
sophistry can make it appear just that
a few thousand Indians should retain
possession of n large portion Of the
northwest for themselves and the buff
faloes, when there are hundreds of
thousands of white men who wish to
secure homes for their families, and
grazing grounds for valuable herds of
cattle, horses and sheep. Not only this,
but the government has offered the
Indians rations II they will remain on
their reservations, and in addition has
given them plows, hoes, seed and what
ever else might be necess airy to teach
them the arts of peace. 1t is true that
some Of these reservations are not COM
posed of very good land; but when a
man has all he wants to eat and wear
given to him, it ought to make very
little difference what kind of land his
house is located on. 1.-THE greatest
good to the greatest number" comprises
in a few words the science of true gov.
eminent, at least, IS we understand it;
and il this be true, it certainly would
be much better TO throw the lands open
to our citizens, whether white or red,
than keep thousands of square miles
for tho sole use Of u few predatory
bands, on which they can hunt, fish,
and make war upon their neighbors.
There is a specious kind of reasoning
in regard to Indian rights, which is
untrue and wholly unfair.
A. G. BRACKETr.