The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-06-12
SAN CARLOS, A. T.,

MAY =, 1000.
Officers and brothers My duties,
though humble, are neither laborious
nor unpleasant. When I first came
Nosey was working on his dam, and
with the others 1 lent a helping hand.
The women were all out with their
baskets carrying dirt, and filled their
baskets for them as one after another
they came. They easily carry hum
dred pounds, and found myself BUSH
ly employed to load them. They all
wanted me to fill their baskets, and it
wasn't long till 1 called for help, and
they laughed heartily. Of building
dams and digging bitches these In
dams have some knowledge, and for a
time there was nothing for me to do
so visited each band daily and en-
couraged them by assisting at the
work they had already begun.
The spring work of planting began
and found plenty to do, showing
them how to harness horses and to
plew. To give you an idea 1 will re-
late one instance. Chief Pagola had
told me that he wanted to pillow, so the
next morning 1 went over. Seven
or eight Indians were there with one
little pony. There was no single-tree,
so by signs let them know what
wanted and one went after it. When
he returned he had been careful to
take off both the single-trees and
brought the double-tree only. An
other hour was spent in going after
the single-tree. We hitched up the
little pony, then with one to lead, one
on each side to whip and one to hold
the pillow, our work proc eeded. The
ground was wet, the grass roots were
many and, to me, the work was very
unsatisfactory. But to those savages
it was wonderful thing. a dozen
squaws could not dig up the land as
fast as that one pillow. In course of
time / reduced that force of savages to
two and left them blowing. This is
fair sample of my work, and it is sur
prising how socn they learn to handle
the pillow, and how much land their lit
tie pony will turn over.
The crops produced are barley,
wheat, corn, potatoes, onions, melons,
etc. AT present the barley and wheat
Will soon be ready for the sickle-the
instrument used for harvesting. In
fact 81 eat deal of their work is done
in the most primitive manner. Corn,
wheat and barley are put in with the
hoe, and harvested with the butcher
knife.
Water is the great question. First,
a ditch must be dug to lead the water
from the river to the land cultivated. |
Often the bitches are miles in length |
and in some places quite deep, and to |
carry enough water must be quite wide. |
Then the dam must be built, and with
the material to be had it is no small |
job. The people show good Judgment |
in all this work. When the land is to
be watered each man takes his turn in
the use of the ditch. With his draw
ers rolled to his knees, his shovel and
his squaw, he may be seen conducting
the water over his land. This is the
part of the work that would please the
average boy-mud and water to his
hearts content.
In this way is my time spent, going
from camp to camp, looking at the
work, directing and giving orders for
tools when needed. 1t is truly a mo-
notonous life with only one break.
Each week on Friday We go down TO
draw rations. The Indians are all
up and counted; each one gets
a ration ticket, and then comes the
race to get to Carlos. My powerful